“The Strictly judge, 65, took to Instagram on Wednesday with a heartfelt tribute to her ‘dearest’ auntie.”, — write: www.dailymail.co.uk
The Strictly judge , 65, took to Instagram on Wednesday, just days ahead of the show’s grand final, with a heartfelt tribute to her ‘dearest’ auntie and gushed over the pair’s ‘absolutely unbreakable’ 65 years of frienship.
In her tribute, Shirley revealed how Mavis was there for her ‘through the ups and downs’ and would tune into Strictly only to see what the star was wearing before turning over.
Alongside a slew of snaps, she penned: ‘My dearest Auntie Mavis … where do I begin How I’ll miss you so very much’. I’ll miss all your sayings of “you’re right love”, “do you know what I mean like love”, “yeah I know” and I’d say “no you don’t know Mavis”. That one was my favourite’.
‘Mavis was always there for me and my family, she had been like a second mum to me. Mum and I are sad you’re not here with us any more, Mavis. We will treasure the memories. Mum has many that’s for sure. Her best friend of over 65 years’.
She continued: ‘The bond between Mavis and my mother was absolutely unbreakable. We will miss every minute of every second not chatting with you, talking with you and you making us laugh with all your antics. May you rest in peace now with your beautiful daughter Helen and your wonderful husband’.
‘We will celebrate you often, talk about you often, laugh often with all the things that you and my mum got up to. I truly thought that you would live forever, Mavis. Thank you for always being there for me through the ups, through the downs and through all the parts of my life’.
Shirley added: ‘Thank you for tuning into Strictly and then switching off after you’d seen my dress. That always made me smile’. I’ll treasure every single memory I ever had with you. Rest in peace beautiful Mavis. Hugs and love, Shirley and Audrey’.
Shirley’s Strictly co-stars were quick to share their condolences with host Claudia Winkleman commenting: ‘Sending All My Love’.
While pros Katya Jones, Neil Jones and Vito Coppola also sent their best wishes.
Ahead of Strictly’s final on Saturday, Tess Daly was overcome with emotion when she was awarded the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving host of the same dance competition.
The presenter, 56, is set to bow out of the dance competition with her co-host Claudia Winkleman after 21 years and 216 days on air.
Tess has been part of the series since it’s very first episode back in 2004 where she presented alongside the late Bruce Forsyth.
Sir Bruce – who died in 2017 – starred alongside her until his retirement in 2013, when Claudia then took over.
Appearing on The One Show with hosts Clara Amfo and Alex Jones on Thursday, they were joined by Guinness World Record representative, Will, who shared the news.
He said: ‘No Tess, you have achieved the Guinness World Record title for the longest-serving host of the same dance competition TV show for 21 years and 216 days.’
Tess exclaimed: ‘No way! I think my kids might finally think I’m cool now. That is… it’s amazing! Thank you so much.’
Sharing the news to The One Show’s official Instagram, they wrote: ‘Tess Daly is awarded the Guinness World Records title for the longest-serving host of the same dance competition TV show!’
It comes after Tess and Claudia struggled to hold back their tears as they were surprised with an emotional tribute during Sunday’s results show.
The two presenters announced in October that they were stepping down as hosts of the BBC show together, with the current series to be their last.
And in honour of their time on the dancing competition, the judging panel surprised the duo with a moving video compilation of all their best bits.
Shirley, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke joined Claudia in the Clauditorium for a debrief ahead of the results of the public vote.
But they then called on Tess to join them, as Craig revealed the judges wanted to take the opportunity to pay them tribute, saying: ‘We just want to tell you how much we’re going to miss you and how much we love you to bits.’
He then quipped: ‘I personally, want to say thank you Clauds for the dresses and the shoes you’ve thrown my way and to you Tess, for all the pizza parties in your dressing room’.
A touched Tess and Claudia then became choked-up as they were presented with a VT of their time on the show, with comments from each of the judges.
‘Between the two of them, they are magic,’ Shirley declared. ‘They showed me the ropes and cared about me and I for sure am going to miss them deeply.’
And Anton and Craig poked fun at the duo’s poor dancing abilities, with Anton joking: ‘After all these years and neither of them learned a step of dancing.’
While Craig chimed in: ‘I know one thing, without a doubt, they will keep dancing… badly.’