Vernon Kay had a spring in his step as he returned to work at BBC Radio 2 on Monday after spending the weekend with his estranged wife Tess Daly. The former couple, who have been married for 22 years, announced their split earlier this month and are said to be going through what insiders describe as the 'friendliest divorce in showbiz history.'
Amicable Weekend Outing
The 'friendly exes' were spotted together on Friday night at Pub In The Park, taking selfies with fans and socialising with friends in an incredibly amicable display. Following his evening with Tess, 57, and their companions, Vernon was seen arriving at the radio studio to begin the working week, sporting a beaming smile and a smart casual look: a cream jacket paired with dark trousers, trainers, and a beanie hat.
Joint Statement and Future Plans
In a joint statement posted on Instagram, Vernon and Tess announced they had decided to part ways while continuing to have 'care and respect' for one another. The TV couple reportedly 'kept it classy' by sharing a bottle of champagne to toast the end of their marriage when they released the statement. It appears Tess and Vernon, who share two children Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16, will maintain their friendly stance when it comes to dividing their estimated £6 million fortune, as well as their properties and business interests.
Financial Independence Eases Split
Largely due to both having secured substantial salaries at the BBC in recent years, the likelihood of either squabbling over money is minimal, making the process relatively straightforward, according to sources. An insider commented: 'Vernon and Tess have been clever with their money and invested in joint projects, as well as solo ones. But both having high income streams means they won't need to battle over their joint fortune as, individually, they're well off. So they'll walk away from this split without taking a financial hit. Compared to the majority of showbiz splits, this is rather straightforward.'
Vernon is thought to earn around £395,000 from his Radio 2 role, where he is one of the highest-paid presenters, having taken over from Ken Bruce in the plum mid-morning slot following the broadcasting veteran's departure in 2023. Tess, meanwhile, was paid in the region of £400,000 a year as co-host of Strictly Come Dancing, a role she vacated last December after 21 years. The former model supplements her income by endorsing beauty products and running her own swimwear brand, NAIA Beach.
Property and Assets
At the heart of their joint fortune is their five-bedroom Buckinghamshire home, estimated to be worth £3 million, which they bought 22 years ago for £1.18 million. The lavish property features an outdoor swimming pool, a home gym, a cosy outdoor seating area, a huge open-plan conservatory kitchen and living room, plus Tess's own dressing room with a Hollywood-style lit-up mirror and drawers for her beauty products. There is also room for Tess's beloved Shetland ponies, Honey and Willow. Vernon also owns a smart modern home in Bolton, bought in 2001 for £110,000, now worth around £370,000. In terms of business interests, Vernon and Tess control 21TV Limited, which has £739,072 in assets, largely investments.
Legal Perspective
One of the country's top divorce lawyers predicts an 'elegant resolution' for their divorce. David Lister, a senior partner with London-based Vardags, a firm specialising in splits between high-net-worth individuals from the media and sporting world, noted that the only possible problem might be if either Tess or Vernon had hidden any assets. He told the Daily Mail: 'The children are grown up so there won't be any issues there, so on the face of it, it's just a matter of dealing with the couple's finances. These two are highly professional individuals with highly efficient accountants who will be dealing with all their income streams and assets. The result is that there shouldn't be any allegations of nondisclosure between them; they have been together a long time and both have been very successful financially, so it should be pretty straightforward. I should imagine the starting point will be to split all financial assets equally between the two of them, and if there is more than enough to go around, then there shouldn't be any obligation between them of an income nature.'
Mr Lister, a divorce lawyer for 39 years, added: 'This would be a good case to act on because their sources of income should be transparent since they have agents and accountants, while a lot of what we do involves people hiding assets. It will be a matter of producing accounts because it's all documented and sorting out who needs what, and hopefully that should reduce acrimony. If their income streams were significantly different, that could cause a problem, but they appear to be self-sufficient and earn around the same amount. They will split the residual costs of the younger child, but this has the taste of what should be an elegant separation between them, and they can go on to co-parent and carry on with their professions.'
Career and Relationship History
Vernon and Tess started dating after meeting in 2001, with the former T4 host proposing the following year on Christmas Day. Recalling their initial encounter, Vernon told The Telegraph: 'She didn't know anyone except me because we'd worked together that day – she spotted me in a crowd and we had a laugh. I was instantly attracted by how independent Tess was, and that's not changed at all.' The pair married in Horwich, near where Vernon grew up in Lancashire, in September 2003. They have been regarded as one of the strongest marriages in show business, their only blip being Vernon caught 'sexting' Page 3 model Rhian Sugden in 2010. Tess was devastated but battled to save their marriage and eventually forgave him. Rhian later spoke about the scandal, saying: 'He just got away with it. It ruined everything for me.'
Vernon's extra-marital activities saw his career take a nosedive, but an appearance on the 2020 series of I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, where he came third, sparked a revival. He landed a role on Radio 2 months later, covering weekends for Rylan Clark and Steve Wright, as well as Breakfast Show host Zoe Ball. After Tess left Strictly last December, the pair sparked talk of becoming a new Richard and Judy-style real-life couple presenting duo after guest hosting The One Show together. But following their shock split, the prospect of them appearing together on screen again looks bleak.
Their break-up statement read: '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, most 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.'
