Just three months after Tess Daly and Vernon Kay announced their split, Vernon is reportedly preparing to move out of their six-bedroom house in Buckinghamshire and into a property nearby.
The former couple's priority has apparently been finding a suitable place where their two daughters Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 17, will easily be able to visit their father.
Sources said the property is undergoing renovations, and that Vernon, 52, will relocate as soon as these are finished.
Mixed emotions for Tess
A friend of Tess, 57, said that while she knows the time is right for them to go their separate ways, it is still causing mixed emotions.
“It’s bittersweet. She’s sad her marriage didn’t work out – she wanted this to be for life, but she knows it’s the best thing,” said the pal. “It feels so final with Vernon moving out, and even though it’s the right thing, it’s still the end of an era.”
After first meeting at a Christmas party in 2001, former Strictly presenter Tess and Radio 2 host Vernon got engaged the year after. They tied the knot in September 2003, but after 25 years together, they announced they were separating in May. In a statement shared on Instagram, they said “no other parties involved,” and emphasised they would focus on being dedicated co-parents.
Life without Strictly
While the decision for Vernon to get his own place will close a long chapter for them both, our source said Tess is also grappling with the realities of life without Strictly for the first time in 21 years. Tess and her co-presenter Claudia Winkleman announced they were leaving the BBC show last October, bringing an end to one of the longest-running partnerships on British TV.
New trio Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe are poised to take over for this year's series, which is set to begin on 19 September. “Seeing Emma stepping into her Strictly shoes is going to be very difficult, because she hosted the show for so many years,” said the friend. “She lived and breathed it for so long, so, of course, it’s very hard to let go.”
However, Tess is also looking forward to a fresh start in her career, and she is thought to have a number of different projects in development – including her own show on Magic Radio. Sources said it could even end up airing at the same time as Vernon's mid-morning slot on Radio 2.
New beginnings and business plans
“On one hand, it’s an upsetting time with her and Vernon moving on, but on the other, this is also a really exciting time which is all about new beginnings,” added the friend.
One of Tess's goals is to expand her reach in the world of health and beauty, and our source added, “She looks great in her late fifties and she wants to be an inspiration for older women.
“She’s looking forward to working with some big brands, and with her daughter, Phoebe, who is like a best friend. She wants to do a YouTube show with her, especially as she thinks Phoebe will be more relatable to a younger audience.”
In an Instagram post last month, Tess shared a photo of herself and Phoebe in a mystery studio, captioned, “No longer bring your daughter to work day, but working alongside her.”
Tess is also keen to grow her fashion lines NAIA Beach and NAIA Active, which she co-founded with her close friend Gayle Lawton in 2021.
“This is a bona fide business,” she said earlier this year. “This is not an endorsement deal. This is my baby.”
In addition, she is not finished with TV either, and she has said, “I’m looking forward to doing other projects and there are a couple in the pipeline. I love working in television because I genuinely love people. As a viewer, I love anything authentically emotive that brings a tear to the eye.”
Amicable split
When Tess and Vernon announced their split, it was claimed they toasted the news with champagne. In their joint statement, they said, “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.”
They also said they “remain great friends”, which seemed very much the case when they were spotted together at the Pub in the Park festival just a week after confirming the break-up. Vernon was even still wearing his wedding ring at the time.
During their time together, they endured plenty of ups and downs, but on The One Show in 2010 Tess said, “We’ve had 10 great years together, we’ve got two beautiful kids and we both think that’s worth fighting for.”
After the news of their split broke, Vernon told his radio listeners, “I just want to say, on behalf of me and Tess, thank you for all your well wishes. It has been greatly appreciated.”
