BBC Radio Two presenter Vernon Kay congratulates wife Tess Daly on MBE
Kay, who has two children with Daly who he married in 2003, also praised Winkleman and the Strictly team for 'consistently producing the best show every year'.
'All the hard work and huge effort you put into everything you do has been recognised by the King.
'Being on Strictly from the start when our babies weren't even born just proves how well you've done. Now they're almost 21 and 16 and we've all enjoyed this journey together!!
'Also, bravo everyone at @bbcstrictly and @claudiawinkle for consistently producing the best show every year!! Time to pop a cork me thinks…'
Daly began working as a model and first appeared on screens in 1999 when she hosted The Big Breakfast's Find Me A Model competition on Channel 4.
She reached new levels of fame as co-host of the BBC One Saturday night dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing, which she presented alongside the late Sir Bruce Forsyth until 2014, three years before his death at the age of 89.
Traitors presenter Winkleman joined Daly as Strictly co-host, with the pair picking up the best entertainment award at the 2024 Bafta TV ceremony.
On being made MBE, Daly told the PA News Agency: 'I cried when I opened the letter, because I just I couldn't believe it.
'It feels like the most wonderful honour, because when you work as a broadcaster, you're part of people's viewing habits.
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'Broadcasting is without a doubt a collective effort. I've been really fortunate to work with some of the very best production teams that there are in the business. And so my biggest thanks is to them, because you're only as good as your team.'
The broadcaster also presented the ITV makeover show, Home On Their Own in 2003, replacing Ulrika Jonsson, and in 2011 fronted the BBC Two documentary TV Greats: Our Favourites From The North where she took a look at Manchester's broadcasting past as BBC North bid farewell to its studios in the city to move to Salford.
Across her career she has interviewed stars including Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, rock band No Doubt and US musician Lenny Kravitz.
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The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Emotional Kerry Katona addresses age-gap relationship with new man & ‘real reason' she signed up for Celebs Go Dating
KERRY Katona emotionally opened up about finding love in her 40s as she addressed her age-gap relationship with her new man. The Sun previously revealed how Kerry, 44, has moved on from her recent split from fiance Ryan Mahoney with hunky personal trainer Paolo Margaglione, 33. 5 Kerry Katona addressed her age-gap relationship with her new man Credit: Matt Monfredi / Channel 4 5 The TV personality signed up to the E4 show for 'money, publicity and therapy' Credit: Nic Serpell-Rand / Channel 4 5 Kerry has moved on with 33-year-old hunky personal trainer Paolo Margaglione Credit: Instagram The former Atomic Kitten star said she signed up to the process for "money, publicity and therapy", before falling head over heels with her new man. The TV favourite said she is no longer "ashamed" to want to be loved after realising she was "lonely" - saying: "I might have been married before but I was 18 when I met my first husband, get over it!" Speaking exclusively to The Sun Kerry said: "I was adamant I was not interested, I just wanted the money, the paycheck, a bit of publicity and therapy. I was adamant I was not interested at all [in dating]." Kerry admitted she was cautious that her dates were only there for fame after they repeatedly used her full name and asked for selfies. "There was a lot of full naming, lots of dates where there were selfies and 'Kerry Katona', it's just not on, I can't be f****** asked," she said. "I just wasn't interested, I was in my 'do it on my own era'. "I think I had more chance with Jon [Lee] than I did with anybody else. "I think when you're on a date and you get called Kerry Katona... let's be honest I've been called worse. "The schedule was hard and full on. Being put on some s*** dates, that was really challenging, some of the dates I got put on, me and you Jon [Lee], I thought I was on the Undateables at one point." The TV favourite said she had her "walls" were high when she first started the process but admitted the agents were able to crack her. Kerry Katona shows off two stone weight loss in low cut minidress "I wasn't interested, I was adamant, my walls were so high, I think you'll see this journey... I'm going to get emotional," she said as she fought back tears during our chat. Opening up about dating younger men on the show, Kerry insisted that age really is just a number - with the star having an 11 year age-gap with her new man Paolo. Kerry joked: "I feel like 21, so who cares! "For me it's energy, it doesn't matter who you are - an age gap is an age gap, as long as you're happy and have that connection. "You could be with same person for the next 10 years and be miserable as anything, it doesn't matter." But with the agents advice, Kerry revealed there was a turning point for her during the process. She hit back at the stigma of women wanting to find love in their 40s and said she deserves her happily ever after. "I thought I was happy on my own and they made me realise that I was actually really lonely," an emotional Kerry told us. "I'm a very loving person and I think being in this industry and 'oh here we go again', I'm 44 does that mean I have to be on my own for the rest of my life, I want to share my life with somebody, I have a lot of love to give. "I want to come home to somebody for a kiss and a cuddle. "I might have been married before but I was 18 when I met my first husband, get over it. "Everyone has seen these lovely relationships, but mines been documented, it doesn't always work out but god loves a trier. "It's okay to not be ashamed to want to be in love and to be with somebody. "I was actually more bothered about what the public perception would think of me, but I want to share my life with somebody, I want to be with somebody." She added: "When you go into something like this, you really have to surrender yourself, you walk in for the deep chats and you think 'you've got this, you'll be fine', but they're so good at what they do, that you really end up thinking 'I didn't realise that about myself' and it's quite scary and it's quite surprising." It comes after The Sun revealed that Kerry has found love again after meeting her new boyfriend on the show. A source said: 'Kerry has bagged herself another toyboy - Paolo is 33 and Kerry is 44, but neither of them are bothered by the age-gap. "Kerry looks better than most women half her age at the moment, and is young at heart. "Paolo thinks she's super sexy and has told all his mates that he is the lucky one. "Meanwhile Kerry loves the fact that she has a younger man again." The source added: "Paolo's got an amazing body but he's also a sweet guy to boot. "He's a single dad to two girls, so he has his head screwed on and is responsible.' Former Atomic Kitten star Kerry signed up to the E4 show in February following her painful break-up with fiancé Ryan Mahoney. Kerry announced their split in November 2024 and told fans there had been "a breach of trust". The couple had been engaged for four years and Kerry had even said that he had "been like a dad" to her five kids - Molly, 21, Lilly-Sue, 20, Heidi, 16, Max, 14, and eight-year-old DJ." Sources said Kerry had hoped to "find a new connection" on Celebs Go Dating - and she has done just that. Last month, she was snapped having a cheeky snog with Paolo outside a hotel. In their first public outing together, they looked very happy as they hugged and kissed each other in the street. A source previously told us: "Kerry was heartbroken when she split from Ryan – it's taken her quite a while to get over what happened. "But she was approached to do the show and is always up for a new opportunity. "Bosses know she makes amazing telly and she's really hoping she finds a proper connection." Celebs Go Dating 2025 cast S Club 7 singer Jon Lee The Chase quizzer Mark Labbett Too Hot To Handle hunk Louis Russell Love Island All Stars contestant, Olivia Hawkins Singer Kerry Katona Made in Chelsea heartthrob Sam Prince QUIT - Christine McGuinness 5 Kerry said there was a big turning point in her Celebs Go Dating journey Credit: Matt Monfredi / Channel 4
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Celebs Go Dating's Mark Labbett reveals he was forced to quit date after shock health scare
The quiz genius has been open about his health battles in the past DATE HALTED Celebs Go Dating's Mark Labbett reveals he was forced to quit date after shock health scare CELEBS Go Dating's Mark Labbett has revealed he was forced to quit one of his date's after a shock health scare. The Chase star, 59, signed up for the E4 dating show in a bid to find love again after his split from TV presenter girlfriend Hayley Palmer. 4 Mark Labbett revealed he was forced to quit his date early after a health scare Credit: Matt Monfredi / Channel 4 4 The Chase star revealed he had a hypoglycemia episode while filming the E4 show Credit: Rex Mark, who was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2017, recalled one date that ended prematurely during filming after he had a hypoglycemia episode. Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, is a condition where the glucose level in your blood drops too low. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Mark said: "The hardest part of the process was the long filming and unfortunately for me I'm diabetic and I wear a glucose monitor and my glucose levels went off the scale and I had a full hypoglycemia episode and I might have got a little bit grumpy. "Afterwards I did apologise to everyone. "It overran by so much and I hadn't had my pills and the right food. "I got it back down to normal very quickly once I had a walk and plenty of water, it went right back down. "I've realised now if I do another reality TV show, I'm going to have to build into the contract siesta breaks, I like my naps." The 6ft 7 quiz king, known as 'The Beast', has had a rocky road to love - and turned to the Celebs Go Dating experts to finally crack the dating game. Mark opened up about returning to the dating scene saying: "I've been a single man most of my life. "I'll admit, I'm not the most clued up person when it comes to relationships, I summarise it - I'm the person who can tell you that Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan but what's the name of that pretty girl who gives me the funny half smile... The Chase's Mark Labbett breaks silence on split from TV star girlfriend as he reveals heartbreaking reason he ended it "So I listened to the experts who were very good." Mark admitted let himself be fully vulnerable during the process but quipped: "I didn't like it." Co-star Kerry Katona said: "When you go into something like this, you really have to surrender yourself, you walk in for the deep chats and you think 'you've got this, you'll be fine', but they're so good at what they do and you don't realise these things about yourself and it's quite scary." Mark continued: "It's the realisation I'm turning into my grandmother, she's a grumpy lady from Barnsley. "I was really lucky, Kerry was jealous as hell as all of my dates were stnning," with Kerry joking: "Mark was getting 10 out of 10s here." Mark continued: "Some of the dates went on really late, I'm 60 this month, I get to the point that I'm ready for bedtime." The quiz master has previously spoke to The Sun about his health. Mark, who has shed ten stone in recent years, admitted years of having a sweet tooth impacted his health long-term. "I was diagnosed back in 2016 and by 2018 I almost got un-diabetic. I must confess, I have a habit to cheat and reward myself, it's my sin," he said. "I don't drink, don't smoke, don't do drugs, don't gamble, don't have any loose women in my life. Everyone's got a sin and mine happens to be sugar but I didn't realise how bad." How to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes ABOUT half of all cases of type 2 diabetes could be prevented or delayed by healthy eating, moving more and losing weight, according to Diabetes UK. Swap sugary fizzy drinks for water, milk, tea or coffee Choose high-fibre carbs like brown rice, wholewheat pasta and wholegrain bread Cut down on red and processed meat Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables Reduce your alcohol intake Opt for healthy fats like olive oil and avocado instead of butter, lard and ghee Limit yourself to one teaspoon (6g) of salt a day Go for a 10-minute walk after each meal Walk on the spot during TV ad breaks MARK'S DATING PAST Mark ended his relationship with journalist Hayley Palmer, just weeks after they celebrated their one-year anniversary with a Beefeater pub meal and walk on the beach. Mark revealed that the split was down to him and his age - saying "It's me, I got old". Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Mark opened up about the reason for the split, saying: "She's [Hayley's] a lovely lady and I was very lucky to date her for a year, and as I said... it's me, I got old." Mark, who has been on The Chase for 15 years, first wooed Hayley with his Toby Carvery Gold Card. Although Mark is enjoying his bachelor life, he is not short of offers - saying his DMs have been flooded with messages from single women. He also confirmed that he won't be signing up to any celebrity dating apps like Raya, saying: "Definitely not a dating app! What's the old phrase... when you're in a dessert, you're desperate for water. "I'm in a situation where we went out on Saturday night and I got a load of people come over to talk to me on various things and you don't feel any particular needs, it's just nice to chat to people. "Sometimes you've got to be realistic and go pick appropriately or whatever. "While every man is looking for pretty girls, I'm looking for smart girls, call me strange." Meanwhile, Hayley described their breakup as "traumatic" after he callously ended things during a brutal three-minute phone call. Mark and Katie, who are also second cousins, were together for seven years, but split when their attempts at an open marriage failed. They first started speaking on Facebook in 2010, unaware of their familial connection. Katie's dad and Mark's father are first cousins, making them second cousins. Mark said of the unusual connection: "It wasn't something we were aware of at the time - it was one of those things that happened." Mark married nurse Katie at Arundel Castle in West Sussex in October 2014. The Sun revealed how Katie had been cheating with a local man 25 years Mark's junior. We also revealed how she had holidayed with a 28-year-old hunk called Scott Bate behind her famous husband's back. 4 Mark and TV presenter Hayley Palmer split shortly after their one year anniversary Credit: Instagram
Irish Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
BBC launches investigation into 'cocaine use' by Strictly Come Dancing stars
The BBC has reportedly hired a leading law firm to investigate claims of cocaine use among two stars of Strictly Come Dancing, with rumours suggesting that their drug use was widely known on the programme. Former participants, professional dancers, and crew members are being invited to share any concerns with solicitors from Pinsent Masons, according to recent reports. The beloved BBC dance show, which has found itself at the centre of a number of scandals in recent years, finds itself at the centre of a fresh furore following allegations of drug use levelled at the corporation in March by Russells Solicitors on behalf of a celebrity participant. It's understood that further accusations regarding substance misuse on Strictly have been levelled at the BBC, reports the Mirror. BBC director-general Tim Davie. (Image: PA) In a statement released to the Mirror, a spokesperson for the BBC said: "We have clear protocols and policies in place for dealing with any serious complaint raised with us. We would always encourage people to speak to us if they have concerns. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further." According to The Sun, one of the claims involves a Strictly celeb who purportedly made a quip about another person's wide-eyed appearance, insinuating drug use, with the remark: "Have you seen their pupils . . . they're off their face". Moreover, The Sun has disclosed that a celeb has alleged it's well-known amongst the show's insiders that two stars indulged in cocaine use, sparking widespread gossip within the cast. An insider remarked: "These claims are extremely serious and should be taken as such. Given only last year that the BBC's Director-General promised to clean up Strictly, it seems particularly shocking. The idea of the show's stars discussing drug-taking is deeply disturbing. The BBC have known about these allegations for some time, and acknowledged receiving them." It's understood that the taxpayer-supported broadcaster is "taking firm action". For more of the latest breaking news from the Irish Mirror check out our homepage by clicking here.
