As a presenter on Strictly Come Dancing, she’s used to seeing celebrities put on impressive displays when they hit the floor for a ballroom performance.
But Tess Daly, 51, has admitted that, along with countless fans, even she was wowed as she watched her husband Vernon Kay, 46, unveil his muscular frame during his recent stint on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.
Gushing that her husband ‘looks good’, the TV personality has revealed to The Sun that Vernon achieved his impressive physique after several months of pumping iron.
Great body of work: Tess Daly has gushed about her husband Vernon Kay’s hunky physique, revealing that he achieved his muscles through religiously pumping iron since March
Addressed the fan reaction to her husband’s body, Tess said: ‘It’s hilarious, he’s been working out a lot since March and when Vernon gets into things – he has his passions and obsessions, whether it’s golf, American football, triathlons and now working out – he goes for it. And he looks good! He’s in good shape. The best shape.’
However, self-described ‘feeder’ Tess confessed that while Vernon competed on the show, she spent much time worrying about her husband being hungry – and subsequently losing weight – and he spent weeks in North Wales’ Gwyrch Castle.
She told the publication: ‘I worried if he was cold, too hungry – I’m a feeder by nature, I’m happy when people are eating, so I freaked about him not eating. I could see it in his face that he was losing weight.
Wow: Tess admitted that, along with countless fans, she was wowed as she watched Vernon unveil his muscular frame during his recent stint on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
‘I heard they were on 700 calories a day, but Vern usually does about 5,000. Ever since the first lockdown he’s been on a mission to beef up and get fit and he went in there bigger than he’s ever been.’
Proud Tess added that she was thrilled the rest of the nation was able to see her husband for the ‘kind and empathetic’ person he is, as well as his willingness to be a ‘real team player’ as she branded him a ‘sweetheart’.
Audiences appeared to agree, as the former Family Fortunes host went on to place third on the hugely popular ITV reality show, behind Jordan North and the inaugural Queen of the Castle, Giovanna Fletcher.
Vernon showed he’s just as captivated by his wife’s beauty on Saturday, when she unveiled a snap of herself posing in a dazzling gold dress ahead of the Strictly Come Dancing season finale, which saw Bill Bailey crowned the winner.
As Tess took to Instagram to share a snap of her stunning ensemble, Vernon wrote: ‘Hubba bubba!!!!’ followed by heart, love eyes and fire emojis.
Hot stuff: Vernon revealed after leaving the show that he lost 2.5 stone on rice and beans diet (pictured mid-way through the series)
As he settles back into life at home, Vernon enjoyed a date night at home with wife Tess, which he gushed about in a post shared via Instagram on Thursday.
The presenter looked smitten as he posed with the Strictly co-host in a black-and-white snap from their evening together.
Tess looked away from the lens in the loved-up snap as he posed side-by-side with her other half, who smiled at the camera.
Delighted by their evening, Vernon wrote in the caption: ‘Last nights date night…. The joy of good, refuelling food and a jolly good catch up with the fam was very special! Didn’t miss rice and beans with fried rodent one bit!!!’
I’m A Celebrity winner Giovanna Fletcher seemed amused by Vernon’s comments on their meal as she joked: ‘You didn’t even order a side of pigeon? Or Squirrel? Or Eel?’
Sweet: As he settles back into life at home, Vernon enjoyed a date night at home with wife Tess, which he gushed about in a post shared via Instagram on Thursday
The author then added that she thought Vernon had shared a ‘stunning picture’ of the two of them.
Earlier this month, Tess said she was already ‘feeding up’ her husband after his two-and-a-half stone weight loss.
The Strictly Come Dancing star took to her Instagram Stories and shared a photo of chicken soup and bread she made for her other half.
Alongside the photo, the TV host wrote: ‘Chicken soup at bedtime… feeding him up’.
Tess told of her joy at having Vernon back home, sharing a snap of them together as she wrote: ‘After almost 5 weeks away (2 and a half in isolation before going into the Castle) it’s so good to have him home ❤️ Now it’s time to get that Christmas tree up.’
‘Feeding him up’: Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly took to her Instagram Stories and shared a photo of chicken soup and bread she made for her other half
It comes after Vernon claimed he lost a lot of weight during his 19-day stint on I’m A Celebrity and was left feeling ‘drained’.
The erstwhile T4 host said the programme’s doctor delivered the news after a check-up before he left Gwrych Castle in Wales earlier this month.
He said: ‘We were eating nothing but rice and beans. For the first two meals you’re like, “Yeah, we can do this”, then you realise every meal is bloody rice and beans. It’s awful. You’re so drained.
‘The medic weighed us after the show and I’ve lost just over two and a half stone, and I haven’t got two and a half stone to lose. So you’re physically drained, you’re emotionally drained because you’re missing your family.’
Vernon, who has been married to Tess or 17 years, said that he is looking forward to putting the weight back on over Christmas.
When asked what he will do when he gets back to his Buckinghamshire home, he said: ‘We’re going to put the Christmas tree up and I’ve got a funny feeling there may be a bottle of champagne involved. Oh I’m going to enjoy putting that two and half stone back on.’
The father-of-two paid tribute to his wife for supporting him and getting him votes by using Instagram.
He added: ‘Tess was just elated for me. I’ve seen what she’s done on social media and she’s worked her socks off for me, it’s amazing.
‘We’re going to be reunited after Strictly. I’ll get home and see the girls first, Tess will get back about midnight.’
The finalists: Givoanna Fletcher was crowned the Queen of the Castle, with Jordan North placing second and Vernon coming in third