In a significant family shift following Tess Daly's departure from Strictly Come Dancing, her eldest daughter has embarked on a transatlantic move. Phoebe Kay, 21, has relocated from the family home to New York City, signalling a new chapter for the television presenter's family.
A New Home in the Big Apple
Phoebe Kay appeared to confirm her move in a social media post on 8 January 2026. She shared a picture on her Instagram Stories showing herself at a bar in New York City, with the iconic Empire State Building visible in the background. The caption simply read, "Home for a while...", strongly suggesting a substantial relocation.
Further evidence came from an update to her Instagram profile biography, which now reads "Heyyyy LDN/NYC", indicating a life now split between London and New York. The move is a recent development, as Phoebe was present in the UK in December to support her mother during the finale of her long-running stint on the BBC dance show.
The End of a Strictly Era
This family change comes hot on the heels of a major professional shift for her mother, Tess Daly. Alongside her co-host Claudia Winkleman, Daly announced in September 2025 that they would be leaving Strictly Come Dancing after more than two decades. Their final show aired on Christmas Day 2025.
The pair, who started hosting the show in 2004, released a joint video statement expressing their love for the programme. "We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream," they said. "We were always going to leave together, and now feels like the right time." They extended thanks to the BBC and the production team, promising to continue saying "keep dancing" to each other in more casual settings.
A Daughter's Heartfelt Tribute
Following the emotional final live show, Phoebe took to Instagram to pen a moving tribute to her mother. She described the love and joy created by Strictly as "something magical" and called herself lucky to have seen her mum work with "the absolute best people."
She wrote emotionally, "Mum you are a true inspiration to me. I will hold all these Strictly memories close to my heart forever. It's been in my life since the day mum was pregnant with me so I don't know life without Strictly and for that reason I will forever be the show's number one fan." This poignant message underscored how integral the show has been to their family life.
While Phoebe has not disclosed the specific reason for her move to New York or its intended duration, the timing marks a clear period of transition for the Daly-Kay household. As Tess Daly steps away from the Strictly spotlight that defined her career for 21 years, her daughter is simultaneously spreading her wings on a new continent.
