Tess Daly mortified over Strictly 'mistakes' with show returning in just weeks

All eyes will be on Strictly Come Dancing this year, as it returns for its 20th anniversary season. But the new series has been marred by a flurry of negative stories from former contestants who have complained of mistreatment and abusive behaviour at the hands of their professional dance partners. Some of the Strictly crew, though, have other concerns on their minds.

Show co-host Tess Daly is focused on looking her best as the show returns to our screens and cringes at her earlier appearances. She told Good Housekeeping magazine: “Of course I’ve made beauty mistakes over the years. It’s Strictly Come Dancing’s 20th anniversary this year, and, to prepare, they were showing us some old clips.

“I thought ‘Oh my goodness, look at what I’m wearing! And look at my hair.’ It was just a bit limp.”

Tess, who is now 55, has co-hosted the show since the very beginning, being joined by Claudia Winkleman after Sir Bruce Forsyth retired at the end of the 2013 season. But she’s reportedly anxious that this year’s final could be the last time we see Strictly on our screens, and “terrified of the fallout” after the recent rash of scandals.

An anonymous source, speaking to Heat Magazine, confided: Tess has been getting very stressed about the future of the show, and she worries that this series could be the last because of all this controversy.

"This Graziano drama is the last thing they needed following on from Giovanni, and she’s not sure how much more Strictly can take.”

"The show has been a big part of her life for 20 years, so it’s understandable that it means a great deal to her and Tess “hates that it’s being destroyed,” the source claimed.

They added: “Obviously, she doesn’t see what goes on during rehearsals, but she’s always got on well with the professional dancers. She feels quite protective of them, but she knows the bosses must protect the contestants.

“Strictly is her baby, and she’d be devastated if they cancelled it.”