Tess Daly: Spooky Strictly, Bonfire night and a new addition to our family!

The spooky times at Strictly over the weekend for the Halloween special were absolutely fang-tastic (sorry!). Sadly the nightmares became a reality for poor Rachel Riley who became the latest celebrity to be voted off the show. We are sad to see her go!

The tricks and treats on the night included rugby star Ben Cohen dancing topless (definitely a treat). You’re welcome viewers! You should've heard the audience roar their appreciation when he stepped on the floor. It was positively deafening!

Claudia Winkleman and I got fully into the ‘spirit’ (I’ll stop now!) and ‘flew’ into the studio on a witch’s broomstick made for two! We had a scream (quite literally as we were petrified!) We were hoisted fifty feet up in the air with only a wrist strap to hold onto for safety! Gulp!

[Tess Daly: Half term, Halloween and the benefits of Strictly]
[Tess Daly: Strictly, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Disney Princesses]

Brucie has booked the evening off for this week’s show so Claudia and I will be doing the honours. Although fifty foot entrance might be off the cards this time. ☺

On the home front this week we had a lot of Halloween fun dressing up as witches while Vernon donned his scary ape suit. Now it's back to school after the half term holidays. It’s a fond farewell to a week of play dates, late nights and the spooky Halloween fun. And it’s HELLO to hectic mornings, homework and buckling down to hard work until Christmas. Phew! And Is it just me or is it TWICE as hard getting out of bed when it's still dark outside?! Not fair!

I've actually been a bit apprehensive about my youngest daughter Amber going back to school as she's yet to fully settle into her new school routine.  She only started reception in September and her teacher had warned us it would get worse (coming back after the break) before it got better.

We did have a few tears first thing this Monday morning but fortunately they didn't last long and she was soon happily telling teacher about our new family addition - Smartie the Hamster. Cue sighs of relief all round.

Still, it will be handy comparing settling-in notes with the other mums as we have a Reception class coffee morning planned for Thursday.

Our Bonfire night celebrations have been postponed from Sunday due to the terrible weather. Ever since I told the girls that when we were younger my sister and I would always make our own "Guy Fawkes" they're very keen to make their own too!

[Tess Daly: Bonding on Strictly and the Dummy Fairy]
[Tess Daly: Missing Bruce on Strictly, laughing with Alan Carr and the awkward reproduction chat!]

So we're making our Guy by stuffing old clothes and shoes with newspaper. Although I think they may be reluctant to throw it onto the top of the fire to burn at the end of the night!``

One of the great benefits of having children, of course, is that you get to be one yourself all over again and this week I plan on more shameless reliving of my own childhood through my children. Haha!

I’m going to take Phoebe, my eldest, on her first horse-riding lesson. I think I’m even more excited than she is seeing as it's been a lifelong (unrealized) dream of mine to own a pony.

For now though, lessons will have to do as I'm under no illusions of the hard work involved and frankly, I've already got my hands full with two kids, a dog, five fish and the new hamster. If Vernon gets his was there may be chickens very soon too. At this rate we won't need a garden - we'll need a farm!

Hope you're week goes with a bang!

Love Tess xxx

Read more from guest writer Tess Daly:

Tess Daly: Back To School, Back To Strictly
Tess Daly: Sneaking in their five-a-day and meeting Prince Harry
Tess Daly: After school fun and all the gossip from Strictly
Tess Daly: I can’t wait to be reunited with my Strictly BFF!
Tess Daly: Missing Bruce on Strictly, laughing with Alan Carr and the awkward reproduction chat!
Tess Daly: Bonding on Strictly and the Dummy Fairy
Tess Daly: Strictly, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Disney Princesses
Tess Daly: Half term, Halloween and the benefits of Strictly