Vernon Kay's father, Norman, has spoken publicly about the breakdown of his son's marriage to Tess Daly, explaining that the couple had simply 'gone in different directions' after nearly 23 years together. The former television power couple announced their separation on Instagram earlier this month, having been married since 2003 and sharing two daughters, Phoebe and Amber.
Norman Kay, in an interview with the Daily Mail, expressed sadness over the split but emphasised there was no animosity between the pair. 'Of course, it's sad when people split up, and we're all very fond of Tess; they made a lovely couple,' he said. He noted that such changes can sometimes lead to better things, adding that his son is mature enough to manage independently and has maintained daily contact with his parents since the announcement.
The 81-year-old also warned Vernon against rushing into a new romance, stressing that he has 'plenty of time' ahead. He confirmed there was no third party involved, stating: 'He's not interested in finding anyone else at the moment, and there is nobody else involved.' The couple's joint statement on 8 May similarly asserted that no other parties were involved in their decision to separate amicably.
Despite the emotional difficulty, Norman maintained a positive outlook, even light-heartedly acknowledging that Vernon is now available. He added: 'Tess is a lovely woman, and we want to make sure everyone is all right in this - her, Vernon and obviously our grandchildren.' The pair, who met in 2001 while working on Top of the Pops@Play, have continued to live together in the family home and reportedly toasted their new chapter after releasing their statement.
