Tess Daly and Vernon Kay shocked fans when they announced their split after 23 years of marriage on Friday, but now it seems the decision was a long time in the making. In a heartbreaking statement, the couple, who wed in 2003, revealed they had agonised over the decision to go their separate ways. They insist the split is amicable and that they will continue to be supportive parents to their daughters Phoebe, 23, and Amber, 19.
Tess, 57, and Vernon, 52, said they had decided to part after 'much consideration, and a deep sense of care and respect for one another'. However, there appeared to be signs pointing to their separation, from huge life changes and separate family outings to social media snubs. Here, we examine the indicators that the couple were heading in different directions.
Separate Family Outings
Their eldest daughter Phoebe recently moved to New York to pursue a career in modelling, but upon her return to the UK, she has appeared to spend time with her parents separately. Phoebe, a film production student and influencer, caught up with her dad for rooftop drinks at the swanky Mayfair hotel The Chancery Rosewood just this week. The pair looked stylish in the snaps, with Vernon captioning the post: 'Ahhhhh Summer nights in London on the @thechanceryrosewood rooftop with @phoebeekay The best view on a clear blue evening sky…' This came days after Phoebe enjoyed an ice cream in the park with mum Tess, who also took to Instagram with snaps, writing: 'Got my Phoebe back for a few days and making the most of every moment.'
Changing Family Dynamics
Last month, Vernon opened up about his family's 'changing' dynamic while insisting he and Tess's daughters will not be pampered nepo babies. He said they have always instilled a strong work ethic in their daughters, encouraging them to 'go out and graft'. He added: '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 also revealed 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.'
Social Snub
From looking at the couple's social media, fans would be mistaken for thinking the pair had not featured each other on their grids since February. However, last month, Vernon joined Tess and daughter Phoebe on a sun-soaked trip with her bikini brand, but his wife chose not to show his face. Gone were the couple's beaming selfies; Tess only showed the back of Vernon's head as he sat on the beach before heading into the sea. He too posted snaps from the getaway, but just like his wife, did not include any pictures of her, opting instead to pose alongside their daughter.
Cryptic Posts
Elsewhere on Instagram, Tess shared a cryptic post six weeks ago about 'finding peace', which received support from her famous friends. Alongside a beaming snap, the post read: 'May you always find your own little moments of peace each day.' Pals including Claudia Winkleman rushed to the comments with words of support and emojis.
Huge Life Changes
The most obvious change for Tess in recent months was her decision to waltz away from hosting BBC's Strictly Come Dancing after 21 years. The couple were said to be 'entering a new chapter in their marriage' after she quit the show, just a day before the announcement of the split. Tess 'wants to be a bit selfish' as she feels she has 'missed out' on travelling due to working since her teens and is preparing to go on a 'grown-up gap year' before turning 60. A source told Closer magazine: 'She is desperate to have a grown-up gap year and see the world with Vernon as she wants to do it while they still can. Vernon could take some time-off and they could just do everything they've ever wanted to do and enjoy what they've worked for.' Though the couple would like to go for a whole year, Vernon is said to want to 'jet off for a few weeks at a time' so he can return home to still host his mid-morning radio show. 'It would be the first time in a long while that they will get to spend quality time together just the two of them with no responsibilities. It would be a new chapter in their marriage. Tess always put Vernon and the girls first and now she wants to be a bit selfish and make the most of their situation and her new-found freedom. She has been working since her teens and never really got to do all the travelling. She feels she's missed out even though she knows how lucky she is.'
