Tess Daly keeps her children ‘grounded’ against the trappings of fame and raises them with ‘morals, respect and a work ethic.’
The Strictly host, 51, told MailOnline her oldest daughter Phoebe, 16, didn’t realise her mum worked on TV until she was seven years old – as Tess and her I’m A Celeb star husband Vernon Kay, 46, worked to keep their family shielded from the limelight.
In an exclusive interview, Tess, who’s also a mum to Amber, 11, admitted ‘it has never been about us at home’ when talking about the importance of keeping her career separate from motherhood.
‘It is everything for us’: Tess Daly keeps her children ‘grounded’ against the trappings of fame and raises them with ‘morals, respect and a work ethic’
She told MailOnline: ‘They are so grounded they know the value of everything. It is everything for us.
‘They have good morals and respect others. It’s everything. They build their self-esteem via you. It is so important to us to keep them grounded.
‘It has never been about us at home – it is about them and their lives and us at a family. Phoebe didn’t even know I worked on TV until she was about seven!
‘She had no idea until she saw me once and said “there’s my mum!” She just thought I went to work on a Saturday because to them it is work.
‘She had no idea’: The Strictly host told MailOnline her oldest Phoebe didn’t know she worked on TV until she was seven (Tess with husband Vernon Kay and daughters Phoebe and Amber)
‘Of course they thoroughly enjoy it and they loved watching their dad on I’m A Celeb, they love Strictly – but it is part of what we do and it doesn’t define who we are to them. We’re just mum and dad.
‘It’s really important for me that I don’t take away my children’s work ethic and their chance to find their own role in life by overshadowing them with your own.
‘It is important they learn to find their own way. It is not about us and ego has no place in our house. They are good, hard-working girls and we’re really proud of them. They’re growing up!’
Tess explained her onscreen partnership with fellow Strictly presenter Claudia Winkleman, 49, is one of the ways she demonstrates to her daughters the significance of female empowerment.
‘We’re proud of them’: In an exclusive interview, Tess admitted ‘it has never been about us at home’ when talking about the importance of keeping her career separate from motherhood
‘We’re just mum and dad’: Tess said she and Vernon are careful not to ‘take away’ their children’s work ethic or role in life by ‘overshadowing them with your own’
Tess and Claudia started hosting Strictly together six years ago, following Bruce Forsyth’s passing.
Prior to their primetime slot on the BBC dance show, there weren’t any other female-presenting duos on Saturday night TV.
Tess said: ‘It’s amazing to me there was no female duo on a Saturday night before we did it and that is a huge honour.
‘It is wonderful that we were given that chance and now I hope it feels normal. We do see females side by side on breakfast TV and morning shows, wherever it maybe, and it seems to be becoming more the norm now.
Bond: Tess explained her onscreen partnership with fellow Strictly host Claudia Winkleman is one of the ways she demonstrates to her daughters the significance of female empowerment
‘For me, it felt completely natural because we had been working together on the Strictly results show and we had been in the studio side by side, it felt like home to us, it felt comfortable for us to be there doing it together.
‘I had already known her for 10 years at that point so she was a mate anyway so for us, it feels right and it’s perfect. She’s it for me, she’s brilliant and I love her to bits.’
And Tess has encouraged her daughters to achieve their dreams as young women and hopes to see them uplift other females around them.
She said: ‘I teach my daughters that when women support each other they are unstoppable.
‘They go to a girls’ school they’re very much into that mindset that women can do anything they put their minds too and we reinforce that constantly at home.
‘It is so important for them to dream and they need to know the world will recover and is full of positivity – they’re the next generation and superpower.’
‘Huge honour’: Prior to their primetime slot on the BBC dance show, there weren’t any other female-presenting duos on Saturday night TV
This year, Tess has collaborated with yoghurt brand Activia as she focuses on her gut health to improve her overall wellbeing.
Tess is doing the brand’s 14-day Happy Gut Happy You Challenge that aims to get the nation loving their bodies this January.
She said: ‘As we have realised, health is our most precious commodity and Activia’s Happy You Happy Gut challenge speaks to me on every level because that’s the lifestyle I live and promote in my home and I am fanatical about it.
‘For as long as I can remember I have been obsessed with gut health. That’s my jam it’s what I bang on about at home with the kids. It begins with wellbeing and boosting your immunity has never been more important than it is currently.
‘The lifestyle I live’: This year, Tess has collaborated with yoghurt brand Activia as she focuses on her gut health to improve her overall wellbeing
‘Everything begins with your gut, it governs our entire wellbeing and if our gut is unhappy, so are we.
‘That mind/gut connection is real. Serotonin, the happy hormone, is made in the stomach.
‘If you gut is unhappy and the bacteria are not balanced, you’re not going to feel your happiness and produce serotonin. I’m a bit hormone obsessed!’
- Tess Daly has partnered with Activia to support its 14-day #ActiviaChallenge, where alongside focusing on their gut health, participants are being encouraged to do other small things that help make them feel good. To take part visit the Activia website
On a mission: Tess is doing the brand’s 14-day Happy Gut Happy You Challenge that aims to get the nation loving their bodies this January