A Beɑutiful New Chɑpter Begins  Tess Dɑly ɑnd Vernon Kɑy Shɑre Their Hɑppiest News After Her Strictly Exit

Tess Daly and Vernon Kay could return to screens together (Image: Getty)

Strictly Come Dancing icon Tess Daly said an emotional goodbye to viewers on Saturday, December 20, as she and co-host Claudia Winkleman fronted their final-ever live show of the glittering BBC competition.

Tess, who joined the programme from its very first episode back in 2004, originally hosted alongside the late Bruce Forsyth before Claudia took over in 2014. Together, the pair became one of the most beloved presenting duos on British television, leaving fans in tears during the Series 23 finale.

Claudia and Tess hosted their final live Strictly show (Image: BBC)

Their departure came after Tess and Claudia stunned the nation in October by announcing their joint resignation in a statement. While the BBC is yet to confirm who will replace them, bookmakers are already convinced Tess won’t be off screens for long.

Tess Daly and Vernon Kay could present ITV’s This Morning (Image: Getty)

According to punters at Poker Scout, the 56-year-old could be swapping the Strictly dancefloor for ITV’s famous This Morning sofa — presenting alongside her husband Vernon Kay.

A spokesperson for Poker Scout said:
“Tess Daly and Vernon Kay are one of British television’s most popular couples, and it’s no surprise to see them emerge as strong contenders to present This Morning. They’re currently priced at 2/1 to take on hosting duties, and with Tess’s live TV pedigree and Vernon’s versatility, they have all the ingredients to become ITV’s next iconic daytime duo.”

Tess is best known for her two decades on Strictly, but her presenting CV stretches far beyond the ballroom, having previously fronted shows such as Get Your Kit Off, Singled Out, Smash Hits TV, SMTV Live, Back To Reality, Home On Their Own and the first series of Make Me a Supermodel.

Vernon, meanwhile, has been a familiar face on British screens since 2000, when he launched his career on Channel 4’s T4. He later went on to host All-Star Family Fortunes, Just the Two of Us, Beat the Star, The Whole 19 Yards, Splash! and 1000 Heartbeats across ITV and the BBC.

The married couple, who have been together for 22 years and share two daughters, could join the expanding This Morning presenting line-up following the departures of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby in 2023. ITV subsequently named Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley as the show’s permanent weekday hosts, with Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary taking over on Fridays.

If the move is confirmed, Tess and Vernon would not be the first husband-and-wife team to front the programme. Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan were the faces of This Morning for its first 13 years, while former couple Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford hosted the Friday episodes for 14 years before their duties were reduced in 2020.