Vernon Kay and Tess Daly have announced their divorce after 23 years of marriage, leaving fans stunned. The former Strictly Come Dancing host, 57, and her TV presenter husband, 52, revealed their split on Instagram in a joint message shared on their separate accounts.
Joint Statement
The couple, who share daughters Phoebe and Amber, first met at a Christmas party in 2001, got engaged a year later, and married in 2003. After more than two decades together, they confirmed their separation in a lengthy statement that read: “After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably.”
“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. We remain great friends and most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority. There are no other parties involved in this decision. We kindly ask for privacy during this time as we navigate this transition together. We will not be making any further public comments. Tess and Vernon.”
History of Their Relationship
The couple first tied the knot in 2003 before renewing their vows a decade later in the South of France to mark their 10-year wedding anniversary. Speaking to Hello Magazine in 2021, Tess recalled: “The first night, we had a gorgeous dinner and drank Champagne, we toasted the sunset and ten years of marriage. The next day we woke up, Vernon surprised me. I opened my anniversary card and it said, 'Today we are going to renew our vows.' I thought the kids were at home and the grandparents were looking after them for the weekend. But Vernon had arranged for all of them to fly over. I couldn't believe it.”
She added: “It was all a surprise and I just kept pinching myself throughout the day thinking, 'Is this all really happening?' He arranged all that without my knowledge.”
Recent Events
The reason behind their split remains unclear, occurring just months after their eldest daughter relocated to New York. Vernon recently shared a glimpse into their relationship during an appearance on Loose Women spin-off, Loose Men, and reflected on making “big decisions”.
“It's a team effort, a relationship is when two become one,” he said in a segment, shortly after Tess stepped down from Strictly hosting duties. “It's important that you make those big decisions together, or at least, make a decision and then share it. We had a big one recently in our household, and we sat and shared it for quite a while which is what you have to do when something has been in your life for so long, like Strictly Come Dancing. You have to sit and make a decision and share it, and come up with how, what, where, when, why.”
