Celebrity Health – Tess Daly

Images of Tess Daly © Nick Andrews

TV presenter Tess Daly talks to YHL about the pressure to be constantly available, learning to protect her own time and the simple habits that help her to switch off and recharge

After more than two decades as one of British television’s most familiar faces, Tess Daly is embracing a new chapter. Having stepped away from Strictly Come Dancing at the end of 2025 after 21 years on the show, the presenter is turning her attention to new projects, whilst also making time for the everyday habits that support her own health and wellbeing. Here, she talks about learning to set boundaries, finding time that genuinely belongs to her and the everyday habits that help her to feel her best.

Q: You’re supporting a campaign looking at the “Availability Load” – the pressure women can feel to be constantly reachable and responsive to other people. Research commissioned by Vitabiotics Wellwoman found that 62% of women remain mentally “on call” even when physically resting. Is that something you recognise in your own life?

Tess: Absolutely. I think that feeling of being physically switched off but still mentally “on call” will resonate with so many women. You might be sitting down at the end of the day, but you’re still thinking about a message you need to reply to, something that needs organising or whether somebody needs you. I notice it most when I’m supposed to be relaxing but still find myself checking my phone or mentally running through what needs to happen next.

Q: You juggle a busy career with family life and all the everyday demands that come with it. Have you become better at setting boundaries and protecting your own time as you’ve got older?

Tess: Definitely. I think I’ve become much better at recognising that I don’t need to be available all of the time. We’re so contactable now that it’s very easy for your own time to disappear without you even noticing. That’s why I really like the idea of the Unavailable Hour. It’s about giving yourself permission to step away from everyone else’s demands and make some space for your own health and wellbeing. There are no rules about what you do with that time – sometimes I might want to get outside, other times I might read, focus on some breathwork or simply enjoy some quiet. It shouldn't be a luxury to create time for yourself, rather than being perpetually on-demand. When so much of the day is spent connected and available, carving out a little offline time gives us the space to pause and reset.

Q: Do you think women sometimes feel guilty about putting their own wellbeing first?

Tess: I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is that looking after yourself shouldn’t come with guilt. For me, prioritising my wellbeing isn’t about making one huge change. It’s the everyday things – moving my body, eating well, getting enough rest and making sure I’m supporting my nutritional needs. Those things deserve a place in the day as well.

Q: What have you learned about finding an approach to health and wellbeing that works for you?

Tess: I don’t think there’s one secret; for me, it’s about consistency. I think that’s really what I’ve learned about looking after yourself. It doesn’t need to be about doing everything perfectly. It’s finding the healthy habits that work for you and being consistent with them.

Tess Daly, Vitabiotics Wellwoman ambassador, is encouraging women to reclaim time for themselves with ‘The Unavailable Hour’ – an initiative designed to help women switch off from the pressure to be constantly reachable and protect an hour of uninterrupted time for themselves. Visit www.vitabiotics.com

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