'We limit screen time' Tess Daly reveals she bans phones at the dinner table

Tess Daly has very strict rules when it comes to family dinners in her household.

The Strictly Come Dancing host revealed that her dining room table is a technology-free zone as she has implemented a ban on mobile phones for all the family.

‘We don't have phones at the dinner table,’ the 49-year-old told Hello magazine.

‘If you're on your phone, you're not in the moment. And I'm a big believer that joy is in the moment.’

Tess also revealed that she and husband Vernon Kay make sure that their daughters, Phoebe, 13, and eight-year-old Amber, don’t spend too long obsessing over social media.

‘We limit their screen time – we’re responsible about that,’ she added.

A family dinner is important to Tess, who revealed she has kept her childhood tradition alive with her own family.

‘For five months, my Saturday nights are busy with Strictly, but no matter what, we're always together on Sundays,’ the Stockport-born star said.

‘I never missed a Sunday lunch growing up and I've continued that tradition with my own family. Being northern, my girls are big Yorkshire pudding fans and they have gravy with everything.’

Meanwhile, the busy mum revealed that she has become something of an avid gamer in order to make sure she knows what her daughters are getting up to online.

‘My youngest loves gaming and needed a playmate, so I jumped at the chance,’ she said after taking part in Vodafone's #FamilySquad bootcamp, which saw her get a crash course in all things online from YouTube star Ali-A.

‘It has opened up a whole new world for me. I can't say I’m going to be sitting down with my husband to play Call of Duty, but give me Minecraft with my eight-year-old and I'm happy.  If there’s one way of impressing my two daughters, it’s showing them the latest gaming tricks straight from Ali A. It’s great to access something they love and do it together. 'she added.