News of Tess Daly and Vernon Kay’s split has shocked many, after they announced they had made the decision to ‘amicably separate’.
Tess, 57, and Vernon, 52, posted the news onto their Instagram stories, both writing: ‘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.’
The couple have been married for 23 years, meeting in 2001 and tying the knot in 2003.
Their relationship, however, wasn’t always plain sailing. Vernon was embroiled in a sexting scandal in 2010 that continued to haunt them later on in their marriage.
So how did one of Britain most well-known TV couples come to know each other, and what did their relationship looks like?
When did Vernon Kay and Tess Daly meet?
Vernon and Tess first met at a BBC Christmas party in 2001. On an episode of Scott Mills’ Radio 2 show, Vernon recounted how it all went down.
He recalled their relationship beginnings to the former BBC presenter: ‘Strictly Come Dancing’s Tess and I, recreated the video for Britney Spears’ Hit Me Baby One More Time. That’s how we first met,’ he began.
The Family Fortunes host continued: ‘Yeah, I was dressed…no, she was dressed as Geri Halliwell in the Spice Girls Union Jack dress; I was dressed as Britney Spears in the Hit Me Baby One More Time video school uniform. It was in a charity shop on Shepherd’s Green, Shepherd’s Bush Green.’
And he claimed that Scott played a part in their meet, too.
‘I think you teed it up. I think you set it up as, “Why don’t you and our new presenter, Tess Daly, go and do this?”‘ Vernon recalled.
Tess has previously spoken to The Sun about their ‘immediate’ connection. ‘I couldn’t imagine having more fun with anyone else. It was pretty explosive, I tell you,’ she shared.
When did Vernon and Tess get married?
After just two years of dating, Vernon and Tess got married on 12 September 2003.
St Mary’s Church in Vernon’s hometown Horwich was their chosen venue, before their reception at Rivington Hall Barn. Adding some cool factor to their special day, they travelled in a VW camper van, which had the words ‘Just Married’ written on the back window. The bride wasn’t the only one in white, with Vernon also opting for a suit in the hue and a pink shirt.
After their nuptials, Vernon said he was ‘over the moon’.
Tess Daly and Vernon Kay’s relationship – key events
2001 – Tess and Vernon meet while Vernon is working at Channel 4 and Tess is at ITV
2002 – Vernon proposes on Christmas Day at Tess’ parents’ home
2003 – they marry at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Vernon’s hometown, Horwich, near Bolton
2004 – first daughter Phoebe is born
2009 – second daughter Amber is born
2010 – Vernon admits to sending explicit messages to Page 3 model Rhian Sugden and other women for four months
2010 – a month later, Tess addresses the sexting scandal, insisting that their marriage was ‘worth fighting’ for
2013 – Vernon surprises Tess with a vow renewal in the South of France, 10 years on from their first wedding
2017 – Tess says their marriage is a constant ‘work in progress’
2020 – appearing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Vernon says his infidelity is ‘in the past’ and has been ‘forgotten about’, adding that they’ve ‘moved on’
2025 – Vernon celebrates as Tess receives her MBE in one of their final major public appearances together
February 2026 – the couple appear on screens together for the last time, co-hosting BBC’s The One Show
May 2026 – Tess and Vernon announce that, ‘after much consideration’, they have separated ‘amicably’
They went on to renew their vows on their 10th wedding anniversary in the South of France after Vernon arranged it as a surprise. This time, their children were present.
Who are Tess and Vernon’s children?
Tess and Vernon have two daughters together – Phoebe (born 2004), and Amber (born 2009), who were able to be at the second ceremony.
Speaking about how the couple like to raise them, Vernon told Daily Mail: ‘We let them be independent when it comes to their futures because it’s important that you allow them to find themselves, which is character building and personality development.
‘Tess and I grew up in hearty, wholesome Northern families and that’s a huge trait that helped us in our personal development and I think that’s really important,’ he added.
What was the sexting scandal that shook their marriage?
Although they shared happy times, there were also tough moments.
Vernon sent flirty messages back and forth to glamour model Rhian Sugden in 2010, leading to a public apology. At the time, he said: ‘Tess is extremely upset about this and we’re working through it. But in some ways, I’m glad this story has come out. It feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.’
Speaking to The Sun he admitted he had been ‘stupid and daft’ but he was ‘not a sex pest’.
Tess Daly and Vernon Kay’s split statement in full
‘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.’
In 2016, reports claimed that Vernon was back in touch with Rhian. He addressed the rumours and say that ‘there was never any inappropriate intent to our communication.’
In 2017, Tess told The Times: ‘Marriage is a work in progress. Vernon and I are just people, at the end of the day.’
When were Tess and Vernon last seen together?
Tess and Vernon were last seen together publicly earlier this year – in February they hosted The One Show together on the BBC.
Posting on her Instagram, Tess said: ‘An evening at @bbctheoneshow with some incredible guests.’
The pair stood smiling in a photo Tess shared with Bridgerton stars Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha, as well as Oscar winner Jessie Buckley and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
And only last month the couple were away together in the Caribbean with their daughter, Phoebe.
Despite not posing for photos together, Tess posted one of her eldest and Vernon sat on a swing on the beach, and Vernon posted a reel modelling Tess’ trunks from her swimwear brand Naia Beach.
Tess and Vernon’s careers
One of the things Tess and Vernon had in common was their route into show business – they both had modelling careers, before landing presenting roles.
For Vernon, it all began at the BBC Clothes Show, where he was scouted by an agency after being convinced to walk the catwalk by a friend. At the time, he was working in a DIY shop.
He made the transition from modelling to TV with Channel 5’s The Mag – a weekend compilation show targeted at young viewers. He then moved over to Channel 4’s equivalent T4 where he stayed from 200 to 2005.
It provided a launchpad for Vernon to become a game show king. All-Star Family Fortunes, Beat the Star, Splash!, Boys and Girls and Celebrities Under Pressure all make up his CV.
Currently, Vernon is the host of BBC Radio 2’s mid-morning show after he replaced Ken Bruce in 2023. In 2024 he presented a new ITV series, M&S: Dress the Nation, in which ten candidates competed to secure a highly coveted in-house design role, with their own bespoke collection.
The DJ has hosted the BBC Children In Need live appeal twice. ‘To help means so much to me,’ he said on The One Show after he was first announced in 2024. ‘It’s going to be emotional.’
Meanwhile, Tess became the face of autumnal weekends with her role fronting Strictly alongside Claudia Winkleman.
She was also first scouted while out and about, but arguably at a slightly less glamorous location – outside a McDonald’s restaurant.
At the time, she was called Helen but changed her name as there was already a model with the same moniker. Now called Tess, she travelled the world, even living in Paris and New York – each for five years.
In the American city, she began doing red-carpet interviews after a friend suggested she would be good at it. It led to Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast in 2000, before she moved on to Smash Hits TV, SMTV Live, Back To Reality and her career-defining job, Strictly, in 2004.
Last year, Tess and Claudia announced they were quitting the show.
Again, posting on Instagram Tess said: ‘After 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictly, we have decided that the time is right to step aside and pass over the baton.’
Before they announced their separation, a source told Closer magazine earlier this week that Tess and Vernon were planning a ‘grown-up gap year’ together.
This article was originally published on October 15, 2024.
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