Tess Daly

Helen Elizabeth "Tess" Daly (born 29 March 1969) is an English television presenter. After beginning her career as a model, she ventured into television presenting and has co-presented the BBC One celebrity dancing show Strictly Come Dancing since 2004. Early life Daly was born on 29 March 1969 in Stockport, Cheshire to textile-factory workers Felix James "Vivian" Daly (1932–2003), who died of emphysema, and Sylvia ( Bradley). She grew up in Birch Vale near New Mills, Derbyshire and attended Hayfield Primary School followed by New Mills Secondary School, where she gained nine O-levels. She has a younger sister, Karen. Daly is of English and Irish descent. Career Modelling Daly was scouted outside a McDonald's restaurant while waiting for her sister in Manchester. When Daly began her modelling career there was already a model named "Helen Daly" so she was asked to reconsider her name. Daly's agent was infatuated with Nastassja Kinski from the film Tess and told her that she should change her name to "Tess". Daly later recalled that she was "gullible and impressionable". She has not officially changed her name by deed poll because she thinks it would be disrespectful to her parents.