Famous for being the brilliant blonde smile behind our screens for almost three decades, Tess Daly is finally making time for herself.
The entrepreneur and mother-of-two sat down with HELLO! during a period of intense change in her life. Not only has the new series of Strictly Come Dancing kicked off - the first time in over a decade without Tess and her fellow former host Claudia Winkleman.
© BBC Studios/Guy LevyBut the Stockport-born presenter, 57, is also going through a major change in her personal life, having announced her split from fellow British household name, Vernon Kay, 52, in May.
As one chapter closes, another one opens, and, according to Tess, her new era is going to be the best one yet. "I'm really enjoying this stage of my life and career; I'm excited to see where it takes me," she tells HELLO!.
"There's something positive about being open to what's next rather than feel like you always need to have the whole plan mapped out."
© Shane Anthony Sinclair/BAFTAThe Children in Need star added: "I'm also, I'm enjoying the freedom to explore new opportunities and see what feels right. I'm excited about what's ahead and taking things as they come."
How Tess manages her mental wellbeing
Tess' latest campaign has come at an apt time for the working mother, who has been advocating for women's right to having an "unavailable hour" through her work with Well Woman - a brand she has been an ambassador for nearly a decade.
Tess has said that now more than ever, she values time with her friends to cope with the stresses of everyday life.
"Communication, for me, is how I get a bit of myself back. It's a break from the demands of my phone; our phones are off, and we're talking face to face. Socialising face to face. I do that at least once a week with my girlfriends.
Tess added: "I love reading before I go to bed; it gets rid of the day for me, but if someone starts messaging me, I get livid about that. I'm like 'why are you messaging me me'."
Missing the support of her sister
But if there's one person she's happy to hear from at any time of the day, it's her school teacher sister Karen, who lives across the globe in New Zealand.
"My sister lives in a different time zone - 12 hours different. She's a teacher, and she's getting up for school when I'm going to bed, but I don't mind because I miss her very much."
Of always being "reachable", Tess explains: "We are now at the mercy of our phones. Someone might need me, so I'd better [check my phone], we're always answerable. If we don't take that time for ourselves, then we can't show up for those people in our lives; it's a form of resilience.
"It's about not leaving ourselves last on the list, where we usually reside, because we're looking after everybody else. It's about making ourselves strong so that we can be there for everyone else."
Throwing herself into work
One thing that Tess will be throwing herself into is her beloved resort wear brand Naia Beach, which she launched in 2021 with her best friend Gayle Lawton.
"I'm excited about Naia Beach; it's doing really well. It's a real passion of mine, and I worked very hard on it," Tess tells us.
"When you have your own business, it never sleeps, so it's part of your life on a daily, hourly basis, but thankfully it's wonderful working with your best friend, and it's so satisfying to have that creative input. I enjoy being an entrepreneur."
