In a significant family change following Tess Daly's departure from Strictly Come Dancing, the presenter's eldest daughter has embarked on a transatlantic move. Phoebe Kay, 21, appears to have relocated from the family home to New York City, marking a new chapter for the television family.
A New Home in the Big Apple
Phoebe signalled her move on 8 January, sharing a picture on her Instagram Stories that showed her at a bar with the iconic Empire State Building visible in the background. She captioned the image, "Home for a while...", strongly indicating a substantial stay in the US metropolis. Further evidence of the relocation came from an update to her Instagram bio, which now reads "Heyyyy LDN/NYC".
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. She has not yet publicly disclosed the reason behind her move to New York or the exact duration of her planned stay.
An Emotional Farewell to Strictly
Phoebe's international move comes in the wake of her mother's decision to leave Strictly Come Dancing after more than two decades. Tess Daly, who began hosting the show in 2004, announced her exit in September 2025 alongside her co-host Claudia Winkleman. Their final live show aired in December, with a special Christmas Day episode marking their last appearance.
In a joint video statement released on Instagram at the time, Daly and Winkleman said, "We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together, and now feels like the right time." They expressed profound gratitude to the BBC and the production team, adding they would miss them "every day."
A Daughter's Tribute
Following the emotional final show, Phoebe took to social media to pen a heartfelt tribute to her mother. She described the love and joy generated by Strictly as "something magical" and called herself lucky to have seen her mum work with "the absolute best people."
"Mum you are a true inspiration to me," Phoebe wrote. She revealed the personal significance of the show, stating, "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."
With one daughter beginning an exciting new life in New York and a major professional chapter now closed, Tess Daly and Vernon Kay's family is undoubtedly navigating a period of significant and heartfelt change.
