Tess Daly reveals the surprising reason behind her absence at the NTAs, alongside a revealing photo with Strictly co-host Claudia

Tess Daly took to her Instagram account to share a photo of herself and Strictly co-host Claudia Winkleman, expressing their hopes for the show's success at the NTAs tonight. However, she revealed the disappointing news that they won't be attending the event in person.

Strictly Come Dancing is among the nominees in the Best Talent Show category, facing tough competition from shows like Britain's Got Talent, The Great British Bake Off, and The Great British Sewing Bee.

While Tess didn't receive a personal nomination this year, co-host Claudia is one of the five nominees for Best TV Presenter, competing against Alison Hammond, Ant and Dec, Bradley Walsh, and Martin Lewis.

In the Instagram post, Tess sent her best wishes to the BBC Strictly team, saying, "Sending our brilliant @bbcstrictly team all the luck in the world at tonight's @officialntas."

Regrettably, she added, "Gutted we can't be there, but back in the studio today! Good luck everyone!"

This isn't the first time Tess Daly has missed the NTAs. Back in 2021, her husband Vernon Kay attended the event alone. Speculation arose about her absence potentially being related to the coronavirus pandemic, as there were warnings about limiting public events.

Despite both Tess and Claudia opting out of this year's awards ceremony, there is cautious optimism about Strictly's chances of success. William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps mentioned that Strictly Come Dancing is currently leading in the Best Talent Show category, ahead of The Great British Bake Off.

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Claudia Winkleman has been given lower odds of winning her solo award nomination, currently at 10/1. Lee Phelps suggested that Alison Hammond and Bradley Walsh are seen as more likely contenders this time around.

Meanwhile, Tess Daly has been busy backstage celebrating pro dancer Giovanni Pernice's birthday. Giovanni marked his special day by sharing a cheeky photo on Instagram, featuring himself and Strictly judge Anton Du Beke with strategically placed newspapers. The photo was a promotion for their upcoming show, Anton and Giovanni's Adventures in Spain. Tess joined in the birthday festivities by posting a video of Giovanni receiving a delicious chocolate cake backstage.