Tess Daly

RACING TO GIVE HER TIPS ON THIS YEAR’S ‘STRICTLY’ TESS DALY GIVES THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT MAKES A WINNER

- Zoe Thomas

Tess Daly’s glamour and down-to-earth charm have captured hearts throughout her glittering television career, not least in the 15 years she has co-hosted the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. And as she gears up for the show’s 17th series, the mum of two is excited about putting her powers of prediction to the test once again.

“I have honed my instincts; I’ve got it down to a fine art – I can spot the winner,” says the Stockport-born star in our exclusive HELLO! interview.

“I can spot someone who’s going to go the distance – the finalists. They’ve got what it takes: the raw talent and the personality that’s going to engage the nation and that we are going to fall in love with.”

This year’s line-up of 15 celebrities has only recently been revealed, but Tess is already looking forward to testing her powers of prediction as to who will lift the Glitterball trophy in 2019. Among those taking to the dancefloor this time around will be actress Catherine Tyldesley, Olympic rower James Cracknell, TV presenter Anneka Rice, Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing and Viscountess Weymouth.

Eyeing up the contenders, Tess says dance experience does not come into it: “Look at Stacey Dooley last year – she was a novice who went on to win.”