‘Gutted’ Tess Daly explains NTAs absence in pic with Strictly co-host Claudia

Tess Daly on her close friendship with Claudia Winkleman

Tess Daly has shared a snap of herself and Strictly co-host Claudia Winkleman crossing their fingers for their show to excel at tonight’s NTAs – but broke the bad news that they won’t be attending in person.

Strictly Come Dancing is up for an award in the Best Talent Show category, although the show has some tough competition from the likes of Britain’s Got Talent, The Great British Bake Off and The Great British Sewing Bee.

Tess isn’t nominated personally this year, although co-host Claudia is one of five nominees in the Best TV Presenter category, battling it out with Alison Hammond, Ant and Dec, Bradley Walsh and Martin Lewis.

The pair were pictured on Tess’s Instagram account, as she told her 830,000 followers: “Sending our brilliant @bbcstrictly team all the luck in the world at tonight’s @officialntas.”

She added sadly: “Gutted we can’t be there, but back in the studio today! Good luck everyone!”

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Claudia shared a sad message on her own account via Instagram Stories, in which she didn’t mention her own nomination, but gave a nod to the other show she hosts, The Traitors.

“Massive luck to The Traitors and Strictly at the @officialntas tonight. Miserable I can’t be there,” she wrote, attaching a string of love heart emojis.

The Traitors is up against Love Island, Race Across The World and SAS: Who Dares Wins for the Best Reality Competition award.

Meanwhile, a special category in honour of the late presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth will honour some of the other top scorers in British TV, from Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and Gogglebox to I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and The Masked Singer.

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Tess also previously missed out on the NTAs back in 2021, while her husband Vernon Kay ended up attending alone.

Some suggested at the time her absence could have been down to the coronavirus pandemic, with warnings being issued about limiting the number of events attended.

Despite Tess and Claudia both opting out of the bash this year, there is early optimism about the possible success of Strictly on the night.

William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps stated: “Amongst the hotly contested categories include the Best Talent Show, which BBC’s beloved Strictly Come Dancing leads ahead of The Great British Bake Off.”

Claudia, on the other hand, has been given lower odds for her solo award nomination at 10/1, with Lee suggesting that Alison and Bradley are more likely contenders this time around.

Meanwhile, Tess has been preoccupied backstage wishing pro dancer Giovanni Pernice many happy returns as he turns 33 today.

The star celebrated his special day by posting a nude photo of himself and Strictly judge Anton Du Beke on Instagram, with just newspapers protecting their modesty, to promote the new upcoming show Anton and Giovanni’s Adventures in Spain.

Tess marked his birthday by sharing a video of him being presented with a delicious chocolate cake backstage.

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