TELLING CLUES
All the signs Tess Daly and Vernon Kay had split from snaps of ‘separate lives’ to ‘changing family’ confession
TESS Daly and Vernon Kay have left the showbiz world in shock after announcing their split after 25 years together.
The pair released a joint statement on Instagram yesterday that read: “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.
“We kindly ask for privacy during this time as we navigate this transition together. We will not be making any further public comments.”
The Sun have uncovered telling signs that the much-loved couple had split, from keeping their distance to a very frank marriage confession.
Living separate lives
It’s clear from social media that both Vernon, 52, and Tess, 57, have been living their own, individual life paths for the last few months.
They’ve been spending time with their two daughters Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16, solo, rather than their usual family unit of four.
Their eldest daughter Phoebe relocated to New York in January but has been back visiting in the UK this week.
Vernon took to his Instagram on Thursday to share a snap of himself with Phoebe on a rooftop terrace as they enjoyed drinks together.
He dressed smart casual in a ribbed top and white trousers, while Phoebe looked glam in a gold top and black trousers.
He captioned it: “Ahhhhh Summer nights in London on the @thechanceryrosewood rooftop with @phoebeekay The best view on a clear blue evening sky….“
Meanwhile, Phoebe spent separate time with her mum as the ladies posed for a sweet snap on a bridge in London. They twinned in denim jeans and sunglasses as they beamed from ear to ear for the photo.
Tess captioned it: “Got my Phoebe back for a few days and making the most of every moment.”
No social media posts
The last time either of them posed for a picture together on social media was ten weeks ago.
The pair hosted an episode of The One Show back in February as they took a picture with guests, actresses Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jessie Buckley and Bridgerton stars, Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha.
She took to Instagram to share the group picture, with the guests standing in between a smiling Tess and Vernon.
The former Strictly Come Dancing presenter also posted a solo snap of herself sitting on the iconic green sofa.
Vernon also hasn’t posted Tess on his own page in months.
The last time she appears to be on his feed is during a trip to New York in February where they were visiting Phoebe.
No mention in latest interview
Tess recently did an interview with Hello! magazine and spoke about a variety of aspects about her life.
She mentioned her swimwear brand NAIA Beach and being awarded an MBE by King Charles in November, but there was no mention of Vernon.
Speaking about her brand, she expressed: “I absolutely love running our NAIA business with my best friend Gayle and our wonderful, ever-growing team.
“For a business that began life as two friends with a vision, it has evolved to something bigger than we could have imagined.
“I’m also hoping for the chance to have a bit of a girls’ trip away with my friends – that’s been a long time coming.”
Family shift
Vernon recently referenced the pair’s “changing family” relationship in a new interview.
He told how their brood was being encouraged to “leave the nest” in a subtle hint at their different family situation.
He told The Times their daughters had a “strong work ethic” and said: “Now that Phoebe is 21 and Amber is nearly 17, our relationship with them is changing.
“We talk about encouraging them to leave the nest and be independent but we don’t really want them to’”.
Gap Year Girl
After quitting Strictly, sources claimed Tess was eager to enjoy a “gap year” of travelling.
Yet with Vernon’s regular radio schedule, it wouldn’t have been possible for him to join her.
Sources said she was “desperate to see the world” – hinting the pair’s life plans weren’t aligned.
A source told Closer: “Tess always put Vernon and the girls first and now she wants to be a bit selfish and make the most of their situation and her new-found freedom.
“She has been working since her teens and never really got to do all the travelling.
“She feels she’s missed out even though she knows how lucky she is.
‘Vernon says they couldn’t really do a whole year as he has his Radio 2 show, but he likes the idea of jetting off for weeks at a time, then coming home”.
It followed Tess’ cryptic social media post about “finding peace” – which was ‘liked’ by her former Strictly co-presenter Claudia Winkleman.
