Vernon Kay breaks silence on Tess Daly split with emotional message
Vernon Kay has broken his silence on his shocking separation from Tess Daly.
The former Strictly presenter, 57, and the Radio 2 DJ, 51, announced last week that they had broken up after 22 years of marriage.
Kay was seen looking sombre and hiding his wedding ring as he headed back to work for BBC Radio 2 on Monday morning.
He thanked listeners for their support in a heartfelt message as he opened the breakfast show.
“I just want to say on behalf of myself and Tess, thank you,” the broadcaster said.
“Thank you for all your well wishes it’s been greatly appreciated.”
Kay and Daly announced their separation in a joint statement on Instagram on Friday evening.
“After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably,” they said.
“This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire of 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.
“We will not be making any further public comments. Tess and Vernon”.
Friends later revealed the real reason the couple broke up.
The heart of the couple's decision to split was their five year age-difference and the desire to do different things with their lives and in their personal time, according to the Daily Mail.
“They are totally different people now,” a friend told the newspaper. “They used to have so much in common but things have changed. They have changed. They have aged differently.”
They claimed Vernon is “still a big kid” who “loves going out and having a good time”.
“He loves to have a drink and a laugh. He loves the ’90s disco nights that he puts on. He loves football, American football and Oasis,” the friend said.
Kay and Daly married on September 12, 2003 and share two daughters Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16.
The couple seemed the picture of happiness as they appeared together on a special edition of The One Show earlier this year.
The power couple had presented BBC singing competition Just The Two Of Us from 2006 to 2007.
From following social media clues, it appears that the pair have been living fairly separate lives for at least a few months.
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Pictures show them spending time with their two daughters solo, rather than as a family unit.
The last time they appeared together online was ten weeks ago - but even that was an image from when they hosted The One Show together in February, with guests Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessie Buckley, Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha standing between the couple.
Kay hasn’t posted a picture of Daly on his page in months, since a trip to New York in February where they visited their daughter.