Who is Vernon Kay’s wife Tess Daly and how long has she been married to the Children in Need host?

THANKS to her plum job hosting Strictly Come Dancing, Tess Daly has become a household name.

The much-loved star is married to Vernon Kay, who is the new host of Children In Need 2024.

Tess Daly was born Helen Elizabeth Daly on April 27, 1969, in Stockport, Cheshire, and grew up in Derbyshire.

She has a younger sister called Karen, who she was out shopping with when she was spotted by a modelling headhunter, at the age of 18.

The name “Tess” came from a film, in which Nastassja Kinski played a character by that name.

Since a model named Helen Daly already existed, Tess needed a new name.

It was her agent that suggested that she should borrow Nastassja’s character’s name.

Tess’ career as a model saw her live in many countries and she was based in Paris and New York for five years each.

She appeared in two Duran Duran videos and even stripped nude for a music video by band The Beloved.

Married to Vernon

Tess is married to fellow presenter Vernon Kay, who is five years her junior.

The loved-up couple began dating in 2001 when he was hosting T4, and then married in 2003 in Horwich, near Bolton.

Becoming TV’s golden couple, they presented BBC singing competition Just The Two Of Us from 2006 to 2007.

Married with kids

Tess and Vernon have two children together,

The pair are parents to daughters Phoebe (born 2004), and Amber (born 2009).

Tess’s husband Vernon spoke to the Daily Mail about how the couple raise their children.

He said: “We let them be independent when it comes to their futures because it’s important that you allow them to find themselves, which is character building and personality development.

“Sometimes I think that the old silver spoon and life on a plate in front of them… I think that’s quite contradictory to how you want them to be.

“Tess and I grew up in hearty, wholesome Northern families and that’s a huge trait that helped us in our personal development and I think that’s really important.”

Strictly journey

The model began presenting BBC One’s dance contest Strictly in 2004, and was joined by co-host Bruce Forsyth for ten years.

Then, in 2014, he retired from the programme to be replaced by Claudia Winkleman.

A source told The Sun that, “Tess and Claudia have vowed to stand by the show”, after it was rocked by the Giovanni Pernice scandal.

TV star fame

After being encouraged by an American pal, Tess began interviewing celebs during red carpet events in the late 90s.

She sent a tape as an audition for Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast in 2000 and this led her to host their Find Me A Model competition.

After she landed hosting roles on Make Me A Supermodel, SMTV Live and Back To Reality, before bagging her Strictly Come Dancing gig in 2004.

Tess also fronted BBC’s Children In Need alongside Terry Wogan.