Vernon Kay defends ‘unbelievable’ wife Tess Daly after Strictly host was described as ‘dull’

STRICTLY star Shirley Ballas says she fancies swapping the glamorous world of ballroom for life as a pig farmer. The show’s head judge said she’d gladly ditch the dresses and sequins she wears on the BBC One dance contest in favour of a simpler existence. Merseysider Shirley, 62, has been seduced by the delights of the countryside by her nature-loving son, Mark Ballas, and his wife, singer songwriter BC Jean.

STRICTLY Come Dancing fans have been left furious as a favourite was booted out of the show. The BBC dancing show saw another celebrity leave the competition after a dramatic dance-off. The remaining eight couples performed at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom for the first time in two years.

Tyler West has become the eighth star to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing after a tough dance off.

STRICTLY Come Dancing's stars hit the town in Blackpool after the explosive live show last night. The BBC dance competition returned to the seaside resort for the first time in three years due to Covid restrictions. Spirits were high as the celebrities and their pro dancers showed off their best moves on the dance floor.

STRICTLY Come Dancing fans have objected after the show's mole revealed who goes tonight. Because the second part of the BBC show is filmed on Saturday but not aired until Sunday, news regularly gets out.

Strictly Come Dancing panel alongside Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood from 2004 until 2009. Arlene addressed the supposed advantage dance trained celebrities may have on the BBC show with the professional dancer saying all celebrities have a "real challenge" ahead of them.Prior to the start of the latest Strictly season, rumours spread about celebrities in the show lineup, who may have dance training.This included Helen Skelton who went to ballet school when she was younger and Kym Marsh who has training in theatre.Shutting down the criticism, Arlene said: "Everyones is aware when they go on Strictly that some people can dance and some people can't.

Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly, might seem to have it all - a glittering showbiz lifestyle, a beautiful wife, two children and a lucrative presenting career - but he's still searching for that elusive feeling of contentment. In a recent podcast interview, the 48-year-old admitted his frustration as there are still bucket list goals that he hasn't achieved.Asked on The Mid Point With Gabby Logan when he realised he had reached contentment, he candidly clarified: "I don't think I am [there] yet!"In spite of enjoying a great family life with Tess, 53, and their daughters Phoebe and Amber, Vernon adamantly declared: "I don't think I am content! I think I would know when I get there."He explained that his father, who'd spent 58 years working as a long distance lorry driver, had already found contentment and happiness in his life, but that his own restless spirit wouldn't allow him to settle quite as quickly.As part of the podcast, he took readers back in time to the moment he first attempted to set goals for himself.At school, Vernon had little interest in academic subjects, feeling in his heart that he'd never use the information he was learning in his career.In the years that followed, he moved to London and landed a job as a woodcutter in a DIY shop, cutting fence panels for his cousin - but he wasn't enjoying life at all."[I was] thinking, 'This is going absolutely nowhere, I'm supposed to be in this glamorous glitzy fashion world doing modelling and I wasn't," he explained."I was just racking up debt.

Strictly Come Dancing tradition, the cast and crew head up north for one week to perform at Blackpool's iconic Tower Ballroom. Arlene Phillips, 79, has said that during the earlier stages of the show when she was a judge, it was "not quite the glamour it is now".Elaborating, Arlene said she remembered being put up in a "promenade hotel" which was "neither very clean nor nice"."We could not believe it, we came to Blackpool and we were staying in a less than three star hotel."We laughed about it forever after but it was cold and horrible.That was with strictly – the very first time."They changed our hotel after that but we were like 'what is this going to be like?' There was nothing like the way it is now," she told the Daily Star online.Steph McGovern admits she 'starved' herself while on BBC BreakfastThe professional dancer said the show has since grown "in every way" and is "great to watch".One change she has picked up on over the years is the amount of time the judges get to critique. She added: "When I was there I felt like we were pushed and rushed.

Tony Adams withdrew from Strictly Come Dancing ahead of the dance-off last weekend after injuring himself during his Jive with Katya Jones, 33.The 56-year-old skipped performing the dance for a second time in a bid to save his place on the show against Tyler West.Presenter Tess Daly explained to viewers the Arsenal legend had made the decision to leave the show due to an injury.Following his withdrawal, many questioned whether alleged rows between him and Katya were the real reason for him leaving.His long-term wife Poppy Teacher has now shut down the speculation as she addressed his health issue.She said: "Taking part has taken its toll and it was time to drop out.Piers Morgan brands David Walliams 'one of TV's nastiest frauds'"He has gone much further on the show than he had hoped and it was time to leave."Poppy also shut down he had rows with Katya, but claimed they were both "punchy people".She added to the Mail Online: "He adored her and there was never a row as people have said.

STRICTLY'S Katya Jones was spotted walking through London looking down in the dumps following her shock departure. Katya who was partnered up with former Arsenal footballer Tony Adams, was seen for the first time since the pair were forced to quit the show as she strolled through the fog.

Strictly Come Dancing episode, Tony Adams, 56, withdrew from the competition after sustaining an injury during the live show.The 56-year-old performed an energetic Jive to Wilson Pickett's Land of 1000 Dances, which was met with cheers from the audience.His efforts however failed to impress the judges who only scored them 24 out of 40 points.Craig Revel Horwood went as far as calling their dance a "technical disaster".Following his performance, he landed himself in the bottom two alongside Dianne Buswell and Tyler West.Ahead of the two couples preparing to dance again, Tony made the decision to withdraw from the competition. Karren Brady brands Boy George ‘sanctimonious’ over Matt Hancock swipeHis departure meant that Dianne and Tyler got through to Blackpool week without needing to dance again.Now, Tony's wife Poppy has claimed he was given the chance to go straight through to this weekend's show, but he declined the offer. Taking to Twitter, a viewer named LizzieBiffo wrote: "Well Tony Adams showed his true narcissistic colours tonight didn't he?!"Too big of an ego and too much of a coward to do the dance-off! What an arrogant plum #Strictly."Hitting back, Poppy commented: "Are you a medical professional? Do you know what his injury was?"Do you know that they actually told him NOT to dance and instead go straight to Blackpool and he said no because that would have been unfair to everyone else?"In an emotional speech after his withdrawal, Tony said the show had taught him a lot about himself.He spilled: "I thought this 'journey' rubbish was nonsense but, my god, the rollercoaster of emotion.Michael Douglas looks frail as he continues to show off new red hair [PICTURED]Lori Harvey leaves little to the imagination in

STRICTLY Come Dancing fans have called for Ellie Simmonds to be brought back into the competition after Tony Adams' departure. Sunday's instalment of the BBC show saw the footballer quit the competition after a shock injury.

Tess Daly, 53, in 2003, with the couple having two children together.The former All-Star Family Fortunes host has spoken out defending his wife for the "unbelievable" work she puts into Strictly Come Dancing after judge Craig Revel Horwood once described her as "dull".Vernon revealed in a recent interview the extent of the amount of work that goes on behind-the-scenes on the hit BBC dance show.He said that Tess, alongside fellow host Claudia Winkleman, spent hours learning their lines.The former I'm a Celeb star admitted: "Tess is the best person I have ever worked with."She’s unbelievable.

STRICTLY's Ellie Taylor has admitted her daughter is convinced she sleeps with her dance partner Johannes Radebe in bed every night. The 38-year-old has moved out of the bedroom she shares with her husband Phil Black while on the BBC dance show.

DEVASTATED Tony Adams has been forced to quit Strictly Come Dancing after a shock injury. The 56-year-old made it through to week eight of the BBC show along with dance partner Katya Jones. Tonight host Tess Daly revealed his dramatic departure after he found himself bottom of the leaderboard on Saturday night.

STRICTLY’S Motsi Mabuse is facing legal action from her ex-husband after she accused him of being controlling in her autobiography. Timo Kulczak says Motsi’s claims that he stopped her having a baby, restricted her access to money and decided what she ate are “simply not true” and “just to push book sales”.

STRICTLY favourite Molly Rainford shook the dance floor last night with a rumba to Whitney Houston’s All the Man that I Need. The ex-Britain’s Got Talent child singing star, 21, wowed the judges as she performed in a thigh-cut dress with partner Carlos Gu, 28.

Fleur East, 35, and Vito Coppola, 30, took to the floor to perform a sensational Samba tonight on Strictly Come Dancing.

“Right now we’re in a place where he seems comfortable and I seem comfortable and it isn’t necessary at the moment," she told The Mirror.In the past three weeks, the 62-year-old has been in the spotlight after Strictly viewers took aim at the head judge.This includes being branded “sexist” towards singer Fleur East, “jealous” of TV star Kym Marsh and is now the bookies’ favourite to get sacked by 2023.Despite the trouble, however, she has received support not least from her loving husband.Her colleagues, who include judges Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke, and Motsi Mabuse, as well as Strictly favourite Bruno Tonioli, have given her their unwavering support.Speaking further about the “trolling” she has received, Shirley said it has been worse this year than any other time in the past.It came as the Strictly judge was accused of sexism, claims she vehemently denied adding, “you couldn’t be further away from sexist than I am”.Fans have hit out at Shirley for reported favouritism towards the show’s male contestants.The series judge has also been accused of having “favourites whether they have ability or not”, with some viewers calling for her to be sacked on Twitter as they claim she has “no credibility as a judge”.Not long after, Shirley was lambasted by critics for giving Fleur East a nine out of 10, when other judges were hesitant to award her highly.@Cumiskey55 penned: “Come off it Shirley.That was not a 9 performance by any means.“You’ve obviously been told to tone it down on Fleur.