Tess Daly and Vernon Kay are planning a 'quickie divorce' by enlisting online lawyers, aiming to keep proceedings amicable and legal fees low, insiders have revealed. The couple, who announced the end of their 22-year marriage last month, are determined to avoid a lengthy courtroom battle and instead divide their assets fairly.
Source Reveals Plans for Online Divorce
A source told the Mirror: "Tess doesn’t want to spend thousands on solicitors for a divorce. A friend suggested they look at getting a quickie divorce online. They don’t see there’s anything to fight over and know they’ll agree on everything fairly." Online divorces can cost as little as £300 for legal correspondence, plus a £612 court fee.
Continued Friendship After Split
Despite the split, the couple have remained on good terms. They recently partied together at the Pub In The Park food festival, and Tess continues to wear her wedding ring. Vernon still refers to himself as the 'other half of Tess Daly' in his social media bio. The source added: "They’re still living under the same roof and have effectively re-coupled as friends. They won’t be fighting over assets and will always stay close."
Financial Details and Assets
The former couple’s combined worth is estimated at £6 million. Their main family home in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, is valued at £3 million, purchased in 2018 for £1.18 million. Vernon also owns a £370,000 property in Bolton. They have joint control of production company 21TV Limited, which holds around £740,000 in assets. Vernon earns approximately £395,000 from his BBC Radio 2 show, while Tess earned around £400,000 a year from Strictly Come Dancing before her departure, supplemented by her swimwear brand NAIA Beach, which has an estimated annual turnover of £500,000.
Gradual Growing Apart
The source explained: "They’re mates and want their friendship to stay intact. There’s no point dragging things out and racking up huge legal fees. They only want the best for each other and their family. There has been no dramatic fallout, more a gradual growing apart and wanting different things."
Tess Focuses on Swimwear Brand
Since leaving Strictly, Tess has devoted more time to NAIA Beach, which she co-founded in 2021. Last week, she traveled to the Greek island of Lefkada to shoot the brand’s latest campaign. Vernon showed support by commenting on her social media post: "Absolutely rocking. Every woman needs to experience the Naia Beach vibe."
Joint Statement and Past Controversy
The couple announced their separation in May with a joint statement: "This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire for what is best for both of us." Their marriage faced scrutiny in 2010 when Vernon admitted to sending explicit texts to five women, for which he later apologized. Representatives for both declined to comment further.
