Vernon Kay and Tess Daly have announced their divorce after 22 years of marriage, confirming their split in a joint statement. The former couple began dating in 2001 after meeting at a Christmas party and married two years later, going on to welcome daughters Phoebe and Amber together.
They shared their separation on Instagram, telling fans: “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.
“We remain great friends and more importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority. There are no other parties involved in this decision. We kindly ask for privacy during this time as we navigate this transition together. We will not be making any further public comments. Tess and Vernon.”
A Look Back at Their Relationship
After a Christmas Day proposal and a whirlwind engagement, the pair married in a church near Bolton in 2003, surrounded by friends and family. However, their marriage hit a rough patch in 2010 when it was reported that Vernon had sent explicit texts to glamour model Rhian Sugden. He addressed the situation on his live Radio 1 show, calling himself “foolish and stupid” and saying he had “let down his wife.” He added: “Tess is extremely upset about this and we’re working through it.”
Tess later spoke out, saying: “At the end of the day we've had 10 great years together, we've got two beautiful kids and we both think that's worth fighting for. Dealing with it in private is difficult enough but dealing with it in public is even harder. I've had so much support from everyone that I meet really, not just family and friends, that has really touched me a lot and has been amazing.”
Renewing Their Vows
The couple eventually put the drama behind them and renewed their wedding vows in the South of France to mark their 10-year wedding anniversary. Tess told Hello Magazine: “The first night, we had a gorgeous dinner and drank Champagne, we toasted the sunset and ten years of marriage. The next day we woke up, Vernon surprised me. I opened my anniversary card and it said, 'Today we are going to renew our vows.' I thought the kids were at home and the grandparents were looking after them for the weekend. But Vernon had arranged for all of them to fly over. I couldn't believe it. It was all a surprise and I just kept pinching myself throughout the day thinking, 'Is this all really happening?' He arranged all that without my knowledge.”
Despite their efforts, the couple have now decided to separate amicably, emphasizing their commitment to co-parenting and their enduring friendship.
