In a heartwarming moment on national television, Tess Daly was moved to tears upon being presented with an official Guinness World Record. The accolade recognises her as the longest-serving host of the same dance competition television show, a title earned through her 21 years and 216 days at the helm of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.
A Record-Breaking Presentation on The One Show
The surprise announcement was made on BBC's The One Show on Thursday. Presenters Clara Amfo and Alex Jones were joined by a Guinness World Records representative named Will, who delivered the monumental news directly to a stunned Tess Daly. "No Tess, you have achieved the Guinness World Record title for the longest-serving host of the same dance competition TV show for 21 years and 216 days," he declared.
The 56-year-old presenter, who is set to depart the glittering show alongside her co-host Claudia Winkleman after the current series, was visibly emotional. "No way!" she exclaimed. "I think my kids might finally think I'm cool now. That is... it's amazing! Thank you so much."
A Fond Farewell and Emotional Tributes
This record comes during a poignant final chapter for the beloved hosting duo. In October, both Tess and Claudia announced they would be stepping down together, making the 2024 series their last. Their impending departure was marked by an emotional tribute during Sunday's results show, where the judging panel struggled to hold back their own tears.
Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke gathered Claudia in the Clauditorium before calling Tess to join them. Craig revealed they wanted to pay tribute, stating, "We just want to tell you how much we're going to miss you and how much we love you to bits." He then humorously added his personal thanks for Claudia's discarded dresses and shoes, and to Tess for "all the pizza parties in your dressing room".
The pair then watched a moving video compilation of their best moments on the show, which included comments from each judge. "Between the two of them, they are magic," Shirley declared. Anton and Craig poked fun at their enduring lack of dance skill, with Anton joking, "After all these years and neither of them learned a step of dancing."
A Legacy Forged with Bruce Forsyth
Tess Daly's remarkable tenure began with the very first episode of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, where she originally presented alongside the legendary Sir Bruce Forsyth. The montage played on Sunday also featured clips of Sir Bruce, who worked with Tess until his retirement in 2013, before his passing in 2017. Claudia Winkleman then took over as co-host, forming the iconic partnership that has defined the show for the past decade.
Watching the tribute, both hosts were overcome. Claudia gushed, "We love you, we're so lucky. It's been an honour!" Tess added, "You guys are like family to us, and we always think that about you all. We've had the most amazing time." As Tess Daly's record-breaking journey on Strictly nears its end, this Guinness World Record stands as a fitting testament to her enduring warmth and professionalism as a cornerstone of Britain's favourite dance competition.
