#DalyGlam: Photo shoot Fresh

The past few weeks have been super busy with Strictly, Children in Need and a fabulous day working on a fashion photo shoot for a magazine.

Working in a photographic studio is probably quite a lot less hectic than a live television studio - but just as much fun! 

The photo shoot had a Christmassy style theme, and here's a few of my behind the scenes photos…

Working with a Glam Squad is always a treat! I love experimenting with different make up looks and new hairstyles. Plus, it's a great chance to pick up some top tricks of the trade from the experts!

I opted to change my nude coloured nail polish for a seasonal bold red, but which lip gloss  to match? I LOVE a coral lipstick (or 30 -SO many choices!)

Big hair, don't care! It's no secret, the key to achieving plenty of volume with staying power? Good old fashioned rollers of course!

If they're good enough for Shirley Bassey (who kept hers in during camera rehearsals for her Strictly Christmas show appearance) they're good enough for me!

Like every other girl I know, shoes are a definite weakness of mine and these stiletto beauties  from Kurt Geiger and Public Desire instantly caught my (magpie) eye…Red and metallic gold - soo shiny; just perfect for Christmas!

Children In Need 2015!

Can't wait join the great Sir Terry Wogan, Fearne Cotton, Rochelle Humes and Nick Grimshaw for this year's Children In Need Appeal Show extravaganza on BBC One this Friday 13th November!

Guess who's back?? In one of the stand out moments on the night, Sir Bruce Forsyth will return to Strictly Come Dancing!! 

This year, hit BBC One show Call the Midwife will get a glittering Strictly makeover as four of its stars take to the dancefloor. Jenny Agutter, Laura Main, Stephen McGann and Jack Ashton will go head-to-head in a bid to win the Pudsey Glitter Ball trophy.

There will be lots of laughs and comedy on the night, a highlight of which will be Harry Hill, who in a one-off special will take viewers on a whirlwind tour of the history of TV in his own inimitable style. 

Multi award winning songstress Ellie Goulding will be live in the studio with an exclusive performance of her forthcoming single ‘Army’ whilst music legend Rod Stewart will treat the audience to a performance of his new song ‘Way Back Home’. Megastar pop princess Selena Gomez will also be performing her track ‘Same Old Love’.

Later in the evening chart topping band Years & Years will take to the stage singing their song ‘Eyes Shut’, whilst in the meeting of two of the biggest pop bands in UK history, Westlife and Girls Aloud – Shane Filan and Nadine Coyle will perform their duet ‘I Could Be’ for the first time on UK television.

However, musical delight isn’t just confined to the studio. Throughout the evening the show will take a trip to Walford and visit The Queen Vic where Shane Richiewill play host to a house band with a special guest lead vocalist…

Leaving Albert Square behind them, the EastEnders cast will showcase themselves as you’ve never seen them before in a high octane, glamorous performance.

Across the country everybody is getting involved to raise money - none more so than the Children’s Choir, who will be performing live on the night. Over 1500 children across ten different UK locations will be coming together to sing in unison for Pudsey.

There will also be musical performances from the West End cast of Beautiful, Kinky Boots and Bend It Like Beckham.

Further details about the night will be revealed soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

For everything you need to get involved in the campaign, order or download a fundraising pack.

All aboard the Strictly Express...

Strictly's launch show kicks off in some style this Saturday with a brand new and super excited cast arriving onto the red carpet courtesy of 'The Strictly Express' - all aboard the steam train for some seriously sparkly glamour in the ballroom!

It was brilliant fun being reunited with my mate (and quite possibly the funniest girl on telly) Claudia Winkleman as we joined the new cast of 2015, first at rehearsals for the opening group dance number (lots of first-dance nerves there!) then later in the studio ahead of filming tomorrow night's Launch Show.

Having a giggle on set at Strictly 😘💃

A photo posted by Tess Daly (@tessdalyofficial) on Sep 1, 2015 at 9:56am PDT

Now, I don't want to give the game away until you've had chance to judge for yourselves - BUT, and this has never happened before in 11 years of doing the show - I actually mistook a couple of the celebs for professional dancers whilst watching them rehearse. They were THAT good!

They're a great mixture of personalities; the bold, the bling and the beautiful! All are practically giddy at the prospect of dancing live in front of the nation and unusually the men seem a LOT more nervous than the ladies this time around...

Any other gossip ahead of tomorrow's show you ask?

Well, Iwan Thomas told me that he was absolutely loving his Lycra and crystal embellished top; but that he couldn't wait to take it OFF in future shows... and Peter Andre teased us with whether or not his own infamous six-pack would be making an appearance!

Meanwhile, during the opening number I enjoyed a bit of a treat; being lifted aloft by our very lovely professional boys...  hoisted up in the air like some sort of sacrificial offering! I'm sure their knees must've buckled, what with me being approximately twice the weight of your average dancer that they're used to lifting... especially after sharing a drive-through McDonalds with Claudia the night before!

All the same, they managed like the heroically true Pros that they are, as I tried to swallow a fit of the giggles...

Oh, and not forgetting of course our Fabulous Four Judges (love them all!) and our brilliant band and live singers; it all adds up to a feast for the senses.

Claudia and I will be welcoming the sparkling celebs for the very first time (eeek!) this Saturday 5th September at 7.15pm on BBC One, so tune in for all the Strictly exclusives! I really hope you enjoy it, and see you on the dance floor!

Keeeeep dancing!
Tess
Xxx

'I've never employed a nanny'

In this week's You Magazine: Away from the glitz and glamour of Strictly, TESS DALY enjoys a down-to-earth life, sharing the school run with husband Vernon Kay and helping their two young daughters with homework. Plus, as Lydia Slater discovers, she’s even partial to a plate of chips…

Big thanks to You Magazine for having me on your cover.

Read the interview in full. 

The Joy of CAKE!

With the help of my handy KitchenAid, I’ve fully embraced the joy of CAKE! Even dashing home to bake a banana loaf yesterday in between jobs!! (A photo shoot for Pandora and then Special K as I'm both an ambassador for them.)

I also filmed the hilarious TV show "through the keyhole with the brilliant Keith Lemon, who I love to bits!

So, I've been bitten hard by this baking bug, (yes Mary Berry, I blame you!)



I've had a sweet tooth for as long as I can remember, and so cakes are most definitely my thing - don't get me wrong, I love healthy foods too; I'm juicing daily and the majority of my diet is whole foods, plus I haven't eaten red meat since my teens.

One of my greatest pleasures (and challenges when it comes to finicky little people’s appetites) is cooking healthy meals that the whole family can enjoy. Right now, I'm loving the Ottolengi cookbook…

Their philosophy is not to interfere with food too much and to keep it as natural as possible. Their chargrilled broccoli with chilli garlic and toasted almonds is to die for… even fussy little eaters will be won over! (See below)

One of the reasons I love the summer season so much is the
simple pleasure of outdoor eating! We have heaps of barbecues for friends coming over – it’s low maintenance entertaining, just throw a few sweet potatoes in the oven,knock up a salad And throw some chicken or tuna steaks on the barbie! A chilled glass of rosé or two pure… heaven!

Here’s to long delicious summer! X

Meet Blue!

Meet Blue! He’s the latest addition to our family – and you’ve no doubt seen a few Instas of him!

He’s a Chihuahua and he’s doing great… he’s well settled in as a member of the family now.

Minnie our Maltese Shih Tzu was a little bit unsure of him at first because obviously she sees the home as her territory, but after quite a lot of alpha-female like behaviour (putting her paw on his back as a sign of domination and plenty of doggy "sniff-offs" et cetera, they now seem to be getting along really well… even though the play IS a little too boisterous sometimes.

At 18 weeks old Blue is only half his full-grown adult height and is still so tiny it makes him quite fragile, bless! All too often, when watching them play like any overprotective new parent, my heart is in my mouth!

A bit of Glamour!

Ahem, well hello there!

This could well be my very first blog on tessdaly.co.uk and what better way than after an amazing night with the most fab guys and gals…

Just wanted to say thanks so much to Glamour Awards for handing us the award for Best Television Personality of the Year!

Claudia and I are both chuffed, big time... so thank you! (And Claudia was the perfect hostess with the mostest for the evening!)

I had a fab time out with the girls (Claudia, Alesha, Gabby and Alex to name a few), PLUS I got to hang out with the golden goddess @goldiehawn two nights in a row! I adore this amazing lady. 

I also recently got the chance to catch up with Goldie and her daughter, Kate Hudson (such a beautiful girl, inside and out) at the  annual UK charity fundraiser for The Hawn Foundation of which I'm a proud committee member. 

 It was an incredible evening, held at the legendary London venue Annabel's on Monday night.

My dress was Robert Rodriguez and the shoes were Gina (gooorgeous!!) Thank you, thank you TheOutnet.com for the divine Alexander McQueen bag I wore, you are so kind and I loved it.

... wanted to show you the shoes cos they're gorg... 

Drop back soon for more Daly updates!

Tess xxx