The Strictly Come Dancing host was days from missing her MBE after a letter went astray.

Tess Daly has revealed she almost missed out on learning she was to receive an MBE after a postal error sent her official letter to the wrong address. The 56-year-old TV presenter, best known for co-hosting Strictly Come Dancing, was named in the King’s Birthday Honours for her services to broadcasting.

Living in Buckinghamshire, Daly admitted the honour came as the “greatest surprise” of her life. She only discovered the letter by sheer luck, when a kind stranger managed to get it to her just days before the acceptance deadline expired.

Speaking about the nerve-wracking ordeal, Daly said: “This genuinely came as the greatest surprise of my life. I don’t think I’ve come back down to earth yet. I didn’t see it coming, and it almost didn’t happen, because the letter went to the wrong address.”

The near-miss left her with barely enough time to respond. “Thank goodness, someone very kind found me. By the time I got it, I only had two or three days left to accept it. There’s a deadline of acceptance. I can’t imagine not ever wanting to accept such a wonderful award, but of course I did.”

The emotional moment was bittersweet for Daly, who shared that her first instinct was to tell her late father the news. Daly has previously spoken of her close bond with her father, adding extra poignancy to the occasion.

Daly’s broadcasting career began in 1999 when she appeared on Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast as the host of the Find Me A Model competition. Her breakthrough came five years later when she joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, sharing presenting duties with the legendary Sir Bruce Forsyth.

Daly and Forsyth became a beloved duo on the BBC show, with their chemistry contributing to Strictly’s massive success. They co-hosted together until Forsyth stepped down from the main presenting role in 2014, three years before his death in 2017 at the age of 89.

Following Forsyth’s departure, Daly continued to front Strictly alongside Claudia Winkleman. The pair’s on-screen partnership has since become central to the show’s continued popularity. Last year, Daly and Winkleman celebrated Strictly’s 20th anniversary series, marking two decades of glittering Saturday night entertainment.

Reflecting on her broadcasting journey, Daly was quick to highlight the collective effort behind her success. “Broadcasting is without a doubt a collective effort,” she said. “I’ve been really fortunate to work with some of the very best production teams in the business. My biggest thanks is to them, because you’re only as good as your team.”

The honour acknowledges Daly’s contribution to British television and her ability to connect with audiences for more than two decades. With her trademark warmth, professionalism, and poise, Daly has become a household name, guiding Strictly through countless sequins, spins and surprises.

The appointment as Member of the Order of the British Empire is seen as a fitting recognition for her enduring career. It also serves as a reminder that even the most carefully planned royal honours can be derailed by something as simple as a misdirected letter.

Daly now joins a prestigious list of entertainers to be honoured for their contributions to British culture. Her MBE ensures her place in broadcasting history, though fans may be just as grateful that one helpful stranger managed to save the moment from being lost in the post.