After 25 years together, Vernon Kay, 51, and Tess Daly, 57, have gone their separate ways — but for the first time, a member of their inner circle has spoken publicly about the split. Norman Kay, Vernon’s 83-year-old father, revealed to the Daily Mail that the couple parted amicably and that no third party was involved.
Speaking from his home in Bolton, Norman said: “It’s sad when people split up, and we’re all very fond of Tess. They made a lovely couple. But it’s amicable and there’s no bad blood — they’ve just gone in different directions. Sometimes these things happen for the better, and this is one of those cases.”
Norman shared that Vernon has been calling him and his wife Gladys daily since the announcement, joking about his son’s new single status: “He’s old enough and ugly enough to know what he’s doing! Tess is a lovely woman, and we want to make sure everyone is all right — her, Vernon, and of course our grandchildren.”
Vernon and Tess, who married in September 2003, share two daughters, Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16. Norman, whose own marriage has lasted 58 years, advised Vernon not to rush into another relationship: “He’s got plenty of time, and he’s handling this well.”
The couple released a joint statement saying: “After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably. We remain great friends and, most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents. There are no other parties involved in this decision.”
Friends of the couple said the announcement came as a shock, even though Vernon and Tess have long been regarded as one of showbusiness’s strongest marriages. They first met while presenting Top of the Pops@Play in 2001, with Vernon proposing the following Christmas. Despite past challenges, including Vernon’s flirtatious messages to glamour model Rhian Sugden in 2010, the pair have maintained a supportive co-parenting relationship.
Norman humorously added that he hasn’t yet visited Vernon in Buckinghamshire, blaming the M6 motorway: “Motorways are not what they used to be!”
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
