Tess Daly and Vernon Kay announce amicable split after 23 years together

Tess Daly and Vernon Kay said they would separate amicably after 23 years together, closing one of British entertainment’s most durable public partnerships with a statement that stressed calm, not conflict. The former Strictly Come Dancing host, 57, and the BBC Radio 2 presenter said the decision followed “much consideration” and came from “a place of mutual understanding,” adding that it was “not an easy choice” and that they remain committed to being loving and supportive parents to their two daughters, Phoebe and Amber.

The phrasing was as carefully controlled as the couple’s public life has long been. There was no mention of blame, no public dispute and no suggestion of a third party; reports said no other parties were involved in the decision. For a pair whose careers have depended on broad audience trust, the statement protected the image they built over more than two decades: stable, professional and family-first.

That image began in 2001, when Daly and Kay met at a BBC Christmas party while both were rising presenters working on rival channels. They married in September 2003 and built a relationship that became a fixture of Britain’s celebrity landscape, spanning television, radio and the long-running visibility that comes with Saturday-night entertainment and national broadcasting. Their separation ends a marriage that some outlets have described as 22 years and others as 23, reflecting the timing of their 2003 wedding.

The split also comes after a period of professional transition for Daly. In 2025, she announced that she would leave Strictly Come Dancing after the 2025 series, ending a 21-year run on the programme. That decision, like Friday’s announcement, marked the end of an era for a presenter whose career has been closely tied to mainstream television’s most dependable brands.

In an industry that often monetises romance and family stability as part of a wider celebrity narrative, Daly and Kay’s announcement stood out for its restraint. The message was unmistakable: the relationship is ending, but the public alliance, the parenting arrangement and the effort to avoid spectacle remain intact.