Vernon Kay's father has spoken out against ongoing speculation that his son's sudden separation from Tess Daly was caused by a third party. The Radio 2 host, 52, and former Strictly Come Dancing host, 57, announced their amicable split earlier this month after 23 years of marriage, emphasizing it was a mutual decision with no involvement of another person.
Father Addresses Rumors
Vernon's father, Norman Kay, reiterated the couple's stance in an interview with the Daily Mail, stating: 'That's absolutely 100% rubbish. He's not interested in finding anyone else at the moment, and there is nobody else involved.' He added that there is 'no bad blood' between the pair, describing the split as amicable and noting that they have 'just gone in different directions.'
Advice and Support
Norman revealed he has been in daily contact with his son since the breakup, offering relationship advice based on his own long marriage. 'My advice to him is not to rush into another relationship and he's not doing that because he's got plenty of time,' he said. He expressed confidence that both Vernon and Tess will emerge well from the situation.
History of the Relationship
The couple's marriage faced a significant challenge in 2010 when Vernon admitted to sending explicit messages to glamour model Rhian Sugden and other women. Tess publicly stated then that their marriage was 'worth fighting for.' In 2020, while appearing on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, Vernon said the infidelity was 'in the past' and had been 'forgotten about.'
- 2001: Tess and Vernon meet while working at Channel 4 and ITV, respectively.
- 2002: Vernon proposes on Christmas Day at Tess's parents' home.
- 2003: They marry at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Horwich, near Bolton.
- 2004: Daughter Phoebe is born.
- 2009: Daughter Amber is born.
- 2010: Vernon admits to sexting scandal with Page 3 model Rhian Sugden and others.
- 2013: Vernon surprises Tess with a vow renewal in the South of France.
- 2017: Tess describes their marriage as a constant 'work in progress.'
- 2025: Vernon celebrates Tess receiving her MBE.
- February 2026: The couple co-host BBC's The One Show for the last time.
- May 2026: Announcement of amicable separation.
Joint Statement
In their joint statement, the couple said: '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 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.'
This year marks a new chapter for Tess, who is also stepping away from her role on Strictly Come Dancing after more than two decades. Reports indicate the couple toasted the end of their marriage after publicly releasing the news.
