Tess Daly and Vernon Kay at a Bafta event in 2022Tess Daly and Vernon Kay have shared that they are parting ways after more than two decades of marriage.
On Friday evening, the former Strictly Come Dancing host and Radio 2 broadcaster announced their split in a joint statement posted on their respective Instagram pages.
“After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably,” they said in their post.
“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.”
Vernon and Tess then added: “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.”
The former couple had been an item since the early 2000s, after meeting in their early years of their presenting careers, and eventually tied the knot in 2003.
“It was all quite immediate, really, because we instantly had such a blast together,” she told The Sun in 2013. “I couldn’t imagine having more fun with anyone else. It was pretty explosive, I tell you.”
A year after their wedding, Tess and Vernon welcomed their first daughter, Phoebe, with their second, Amber, following in 2009.
In 2010, Vernon became embroiled in a scandal when it emerged he’d been sending explicit messages via text and on social media to a number of women, for which he apologised publicly.
Despite both being presenters, Tess and Vernon have only worked together professionally on a handful of occasions, most recently in February 2026, when they guest hosted an episode of The One Show.
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