Tessa Jowell was born on 17 September 1947 in Marylebone, London, England, UK. She was married to David Mills and Roger Mark Jowell. She died on 12 May 2018 in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, England, UK.
She was awarded the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her political and charitable services.