Vernon Kay addresses his and Tess Daly’s separation live on his BBC Radio 2 show

by

Vernon Kay has spoken about his split from Tess Daly, saying they both value the support they’ve received. The couple announced on Friday that they are separating after 23 years of marriage.

On his BBC Radio 2 show today, Vernon expressed his gratitude, saying, “Tess and I just want to thank everyone for their kind wishes – we really appreciate all of them.”

The couple, who share two daughters, both posted the same message on Instagram on Friday. They stated they are dedicated to being loving and supportive parents.

We’ve made the difficult decision to separate and go our own ways, but we remain respectful and caring towards each other,” the couple, who married in 2003, announced. “This wasn’t an easy choice for either of us.

This decision was made with both of us in agreement, wanting what’s best for everyone involved. We’re still close friends, and most importantly, we’re dedicated to being loving and supportive parents – that will always come first.

What to Read Next

This decision was made solely by Tess and Vernon. We appreciate your understanding and request privacy as we adjust to this change. We won’t be discussing this further publicly.

Kay recently told The Times that he and his partner, Daly, have adjusted their parenting approach as their daughters have grown up. He explained that with Phoebe now 21 and Amber almost 17, their relationships with their daughters are naturally changing.

It’s common to tell our children to become independent, but it’s hard to actually let them go. We’ve always been open with our daughters, ever since they were old enough to understand what was happening, and we believe open communication is the most important thing.

Since leaving Strictly Come Dancing last year, Daly has also experienced changes in her career. She stepped down from the popular BBC show after 21 years as a presenter, concluding her run with the 23rd season.

It hasn’t been announced who will take over, but recent reports suggest Emma Willis and Zoe Ball are potential replacements for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who has been a co-host since 2014.

As a huge fan, I love that Strictly Come Dancing is on every Saturday night on BBC One! And if that isn’t enough, Strictly: It Takes Two is on weeknights over on BBC Two, which is perfect. The best part is, you can catch up on anything you miss because both shows are available on BBC iPlayer.

Interested in talking about Strictly? Visit our dedicated sub-forum

Read more Strictly news on our dedicated homepage

The latest issue of Living Legends, a vibrant, full-colour 100-page tribute to Sir David Attenborough, is now available! You can purchase it at newsstands or online.

Read More

2026-05-11 19:19