Tess Daly has been on Strictly Come Dancing for about 21 years, from the show’s launch in 2004 through to the end of the 2025 series and its Christmas special.

How long has Tess been on Strictly?

  • Tess first began presenting Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, when the show originally launched on BBC One.
  • She remained a main presenter every year through to the 2025 series, announcing in October 2025 that she would leave at the end of that series and the recorded Christmas special.
  • Reports around her departure describe this as a 21‑year tenure on the show, reflecting her continuous run from 2004–2025.

Latest context and “end of an era”

  • In October 2025, Tess and co-host Claudia Winkleman jointly confirmed they were “passing the baton” and stepping down, which fans and entertainment outlets framed as the end of a long, iconic hosting era.
  • Coverage of their final episodes and the 2025 Christmas special repeatedly highlights Tess’s two decades on Strictly and her status as one of the show’s defining faces.

Information gathered from public sources and entertainment news available online.