Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly has been married to Vernon Kay for more than two decades, but their love story hasn’t always been easy and they’ve been hit with scandals
Tess Daly has sensationally announced that she is quitting Strictly Come Dancing after a whopping 21 years – almost the length of her marriage to husband Vernon Kay.
Just a year after tying the knot with TV presenter Vernon, 51, Tess, 56, joined Strictly for the very first series in 2004. She joined Sir Bruce Forsyth to co-host the popular BBC show in 2004, before Claudia Winkleman joined in 2014 – and the pair have been inseparable since.
However, in a shocking turn of events, Tess and Claudia have both announced their departure from Strictly. The news comes just days after Tess opened up about her family life and how she and Vernon have been keen to make sure that their daughters, Phoebe and Amber, are raised in a certain way.
READ MORE: Tess Daly admitted family issue ‘almost brought me to my knees’ days before Strictly exitREAD MORE: Strictly’s Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s brutal exit pact and tearful showdown with boss
Speaking to Giovanna Fletcher on her Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, Tess shared: “I think one of the most important things we can teach them as parents is, find your own way. Find what makes you happy. Find what makes you tick.”
She went on to emphasise the importance of hard work and humility, adding: “I wouldn’t dream of spoiling my kids. I do not want spoilt brats. I want humble, good girls who are grateful, who are kind. You know, my idea of hell would be having entitled children – that’s the worst thing. It’s not good for them, it’s not good for you.”
As we prepare to say a fond farewell to Tess on Strictly, we’ve taken a look back at her marriage to Vernon, who has undoubtedly been a huge support during her impressive career in TV. And while their love story has lasted, it hasn’t been without its challenges…
The couple first set eyes on each other at a BBC Christmas party more than 20 years ago in 2001. They had both moved from modelling careers into TV presenting, and Tess once admitted that the initial spark was intense and immediate.
“It was all quite immediate, really, because we instantly had such a blast together,” she told Fabulous magazine in 2013. “I couldn’t imagine having more fun with anyone else. It was pretty explosive, I tell you.”
In 2002, Vernon proposed to Tess at her parents’ home in Stockport. Recounting the moment, he previously said: “I think it was when I proposed to Tess. On Christmas Day it was, it was the last present under the tree.
“While she was so consumed by the ring, I was on one knee. She was like that [pulls shocked face]. It was awesome.” During an interview with the Telegraph, he added: “When she opened it up, her face just lit up.”
The TV star couple subsequently married on 12 September 2003 at Vernon’s neighbourhood church, St Mary’s, in his birthplace of Horwich, Bolton. Tess wore a stunning strapless A-line bridal gown by Marina Adanou, while Vernon opted for a white suit by Alexandre Savile Row, which he matched with a pink shirt and patterned tie.
Following the ceremony, Vernon drove them to their reception in a rented vintage VW campervan. The newlyweds and their guests then danced the night away at the nearby Rivington Hall Barn.
They welcomed daughter Phoebe in 2004, and their youngest, Amber, arrived in 2009. However, seven years after their beautiful wedding ceremony, the couple faced a scandal that threatened to tear their marriage apart.
With two young daughters at home, it was revealed that Vernon had been sending risqué messages to four women, including glamour model Rhian Sugden. Tess was understandably devastated by the shocking revelation, which led to numerous apologies from her husband as he fought to save their relationship.
In a candid interview with The Sun at the time, he admitted: “Tess is extremely upset about this and we’re working through it..
“I’ve been stupid and daft but I’m not a sex pest. I’ve only done this with four or five girls and I’ve known them all well – they’ve been friends or work colleagues. I know a single guy can get away with things like that but I’m married and I understand this is off limits.”
After the bombshell 2010 revelations, the pair managed to put the scandal behind them and rebuild their relationship. But five years down the line, reports surfaced that Vernon and Rhian had allegedly been messaging each other again.
Vernon was compelled to publicly respond to the allegations and insisted there had been nothing “inappropriate” in their exchanges. The duo were simply discussing details about the 2010 scandal.
The father-of-two tackled the controversy by releasing a statement confirming he’d informed Tess about everything. In a Facebook post, he wrote: “Regarding today’s story: I was contacted by Rhian out of the blue back in December regarding the story in 2010 claiming she had information she wanted to pass on.
“I recognise how it may look when messages are pulled out of context but there was never inappropriate intent to our communication.”
Rhian subsequently apologised for contacting a married man and voiced her remorse over the circumstances. While Tess remained silent on the reports at the time, she later confessed in 2017 that marriages are a ‘work in progress’.
In an interview with The Times, she explained: “All marriages have their moments. Marriage is a work in progress.” She added: “Vernon and I are just people, at the end of the day.”
Despite their rocky patch, the couple appear to have gone from strength to strength. So much so that back in 2015, Vernon secretly organised for the couple to renew their vows during a getaway to the South of France.
He booked the venue and even sorted out a range of dress options for his wife. “I booked a weekend in our favourite hotel in the South of France and I spoke to her stylist at the time and I said I needed four dresses,” the father-of-two previously revealed.
He added: “She didn’t know anything. I gave her a card and it said congratulations on your second wedding day and I said we’re going to renew our vows. She said ‘I’ve got nothing to wear’ and I said ‘you say that… pick one’.”
Vernon continued: “We went to reception and her Mum, my parents, the kids and my brother were waiting and she was like ‘oh my god’ – we had such a lovely day.”
During an interview with Women’s Health in 2020, Tess sweetly shared: “We’re soulmates, me and Vernon. It’s been a ride. And I love him more than ever.”
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