Strictly Come Dancing’s Tess Daly and BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay have split after 23 years of marriage.
The couple, who met in 2001 and wed two years later, announced their plans to “separate amicably” in a joint statement on Instagram, writing that they came to the decision after “much consideration” and “with a deep sense of care and respect for one another”.
“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,” Daly, 57, and Kay, 52, continued.
“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.”
The presenters live in Buckinghamshire and share two daughters: Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16. They met while working together on Top of the Pops@Play in the early Noughties before later becoming a couple.
Their marriage survived a sexting scandal in 2010, when Kay admitted to sending explicit sexual online messages to five women. He said at the time that he had “let down” his family, adding: “Tess is extremely upset about this and we’re working through it.”
While Kay said that he saw the messages as “harmless banter”, he was “embarrassed” to have put his family through the ordeal.
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Last year, Daly stepped down from her longstanding role on Strictly Come Dancing after over 20 years as its host. Alongside co-presenter Claudia Winkleman, Daly announced in October that they would be leaving after the 2025 series, adding: “We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream.”
Kay told the Radio Times after his wife’s exit that the show “holds a special place in both our hearts and the kids as well”.
“Phoebe and Amber absolutely love it, and we’re going to miss it. We’re going to miss it, but it’s still there. It’s not gone, it’s not vanished. We’ll still be watching, we’ll still be dialled in. We’ll still be in the Star Bar after the show and enjoying it because it is the best show on UK TV.”
Earlier this year, Daly and Kay presented together for the first time in two decades, hosting The One Show in February.
Kay currently presents a show on BBC Radio 2 and co-hosts BBC Two’s game show Do You Know Your Place? alongside The Traitors star Paul Gorton. Daly is yet to announce her next career move after leaving Strictly.
