Tess Daly bids emotional farewell on final rehearsal day ahead of last Strictly Come Dancing live show
Longtime host marks 21-year run with tributes to crew as Claudia Winkleman prepares to sign off alongside her on the finale weekend
Tess Daly marked her final day of Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals on Friday ahead of the show's grand finale, posting an emotional note to the crew she calls her Strictly family. The 56-year-old presenter announced earlier in the series that she would step down as host after 21 years, exiting with her co-host Claudia Winkleman.
Daly shared a photo from the show’s iconic set showing the crew lined up for a group picture, writing, “My last day of rehearsals, my heart is so full, the Strictly family I’ll have forever.” She arrived at the studio to find her dressing room decorated ahead of the final, with a wall of pictures from over the years beneath a banner reading “Thank you for the memories” and a coffee table stacked with colorful sweets amid silver and gold confetti.
Earlier on Friday, Vernon Kay choked back tears as he paid a tearful tribute to his wife on his BBC Radio 2 show, reflecting on the remarkable years she has had on the ballroom competition. He recalled how their family has grown around the show, noting that their daughter Phoebe was in the womb during the first series and is now 21, a detail he described as surreal given the show’s long reach in their lives. Kay said he would struggle to fight back the tears while watching in the audience and acknowledged Daly’s role in shaping the show’s decades of success, telling listeners it has been a “favorite” in the nation’s TV landscape.
Footballer Karen Carney also joined the chorus of tributes, sharing a post featuring Daly and Winkleman and calling them “absolute legends.” Carney praised their leadership and said Strictly Come Dancing won’t be the same without them but offered thanks for the joy they’ve brought to audiences and participants alike.
The sense of farewell extended beyond the social posts. During last Sunday’s result show, the judging panel surprised the duo with a moving video compilation spanning their time on the show. Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke appeared in the Clauditorium to help deliver the tribute before Daly and Winkleman joined them for a candid moment. Craig pulled a lighthearted quip about his favorite memories, joking that Daly would bring “pizza parties” to her dressing room and that Winkleman had supplied him with more dresses and shoes than anyone else, prompting laughter and emotional reactions from the pair.
The moment underlined the evolving family of Strictly, a format that has seen Daly at its center since its launch in 2004. The show was originally hosted by Daly and the late Bruce Forsyth, who remained a fixture alongside her until his retirement in 2013. Forsyth passed away in 2017, and Claudia Winkleman stepped in as Daly’s co-presenter, with the partnership becoming a defining feature of the program’s modern era. Daly’s decision to leave follows the completion of 21 seasons, during which Strictly has grown into one of the BBC’s most-watched entertainment programs, celebrated for its blend of dance, music, and celebrity storytelling.
As the finale weekend approaches, Daly and Winkleman prepare to bid farewell to a program that has not only shaped their careers but also become a cultural touchstone for viewers across the country. The duo’s departure marks a rare moment of transition for a show that has long defined the network’s entertainment lineup, and Friday’s tributes underscored the affection that colleagues, guests, and fans alike feel for them after more than two decades in the spotlight.
The final episode of Strictly Come Dancing is set to air this weekend, bringing to a close Daly’s 21-year tenure at the helm alongside Winkleman. The broadcast will cap a period of reflection for the production team, which has highlighted Daly’s leadership and the show’s enduring popularity as it enters a new chapter without its longtime hosts. Viewers can expect a mix of performances, nostalgia, and thank-yous as the Strictly family comes together to celebrate two decades of televised entertainment.