Vernon Kay has insisted his and wife Tess Daly's daughters will not be pampered nepo babies while opening up about their 'changing' family dynamic. The BBC Radio 2 DJ, 51, shares 21-year-old Phoebe and 16-year-old Amber with the former Strictly host, 57, whom he wed in 2003.
Instilling a Strong Work Ethic
In a new interview, Vernon said he and Tess have always instilled a strong work ethic in their daughters, encouraging them to 'go out and graft'. 'Now that Phoebe is 21 and Amber is nearly 17, our relationship with them is changing. We talk about encouraging them to leave the nest and be independent but we don't really want them to,' he said.
Parental Fears and Modern Pitfalls
He went on to reveal that the couple fear for their children, remembering the terror of drink spiking when Phoebe was old enough to go clubbing. 'You have to learn to enter their world and that world has pitfalls that just didn't exist for us,' Vernon added.
Tess Daly's Core Lesson
Vernon then shared Tess' 'core lesson' which he said had always remained the same for their children: 'You've got to go out and graft.' He told The Times: 'That's something we've tried to instil in our girls. They're still working out what they want to do but we've told them: "Your mum and I aren't going to give you everything."'
Phoebe's Career and Red Carpet Debut
Phoebe, who is a film production student, has also taken on the role as an influencer as she documents her enviable lifestyle to a steadily rising follower base. She made her red carpet debut much later than other nepo babies, waiting until 2023 when she attended the movie premiere of John Wick Chapter 4 in London's Leicester Square. Phoebe, then 18, looked stylish in a white draped shirt with a pair of shiny black pleather trousers as she walked arm-in-arm with her father.
Their outing came after Vernon said he doesn't want his children to live off his and wife Tess's fame, insisting they form 'their own careers'. At the time he told the Daily Mail he was looking at drama schools to send Phoebe to where she can combine her passions for acting and business.
Father-Daughter Trip to Ibiza
While most parents might celebrate the end of their child's A-levels with a pat on the back and takeout, Vernon treated his daughter to a holiday in the world's party capital in June 2023. No expense was spared for their father-daughter trip that included a stay at the luxurious Casa Maca hotel where rooms cost upward of £1,000 per night. The itinerary for Vernon and Phoebe's Spanish getaway included an evening at the glamorous Ushuaïa beach club, where the pair partied with superstar DJ Calvin Harris.
Documenting their vacation on Instagram, Vernon said it was 'a proud moment' to be able to take Phoebe to Ibiza to 'celebrate [the] end of A levels' alongside photos from their time at the exclusive night club. In one picture, Vernon and Phoebe can be seen posing in front of a massive stage while surrounded by concertgoers. The radio star appeared to be holding a glass of bubbly in one hand and a bottle of water in the other, while Phoebe raised her glass.
Another photo showed Vernon posing for a selfie with Calvin, who is married to Vick Hope, while a third depicted what appears to be the open-air restaurant at the five-star resort where Phoebe celebrated the end of school. They also seemingly joined actress Emily Atack for dinner one night, as The Inbetweeners star shared a series of snaps from her holiday on Instagram.
Bafta Parties and Glamorous Events
When Phoebe and Vernon aren't partying up a storm in Ibiza, they're rubbing shoulders with the who's who of British television. The university student has walked the red carpet at two star-studded Bafta parties in quick succession. The first time was in 2024 when Phoebe, then 19, joined her famous father at the glitzy Vanity Fair EE Rising Star Party last February. She looked every bit a movie star herself as Phoebe donned a silver, midi-length dress for the occasion as Vernon kept a 'watchful eye' over his daughter at the event at London's Four Seasons hotel.
However, he needn't have worried as Phoebe, channeling her mother, appeared calm, composed, and graceful while posing for photographs. A source told Hello! magazine that the father-daughter duo spent the evening mingling with guests like Emily Atack, Katherine Ryan, Ed McVey, and Matt and Emma Willis. 'At one point,' they said, 'Matt even took pictures of the pair in front of the iconic Bafta statue.'
