Vernon Kay has finally broken his silence following the shock end of his 23-year marriage to Tess Daly â and fans were stunned by how emotional and calm the TV presenter appeared during his first public comments.
The BBC Radio 2 star addressed listeners on Monday morning after he and Tess confirmed their separation last week in a statement that sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. While many expected Vernon to avoid the subject entirely, he chose to briefly thank fans for their support.
Speaking live on air, Vernon said: âI just want to say on behalf of myself and Tess, thank you, thank you for all your well-wishes â itâs been greatly appreciated.â
The emotional message marked the first time either Vernon or Tess had spoken publicly since revealing they were ending their marriage after more than two decades together.
Earlier that morning, Vernon was spotted arriving at the London studios, flashing a small smile as he faced the public for the first time since the announcement. Despite the heartbreak surrounding the split, the presenter appeared calm and composed while making his way into work.
Reports over the weekend claimed the couple had even toasted the end of their marriage with champagne inside their ÂŁ10million Buckinghamshire mansion after posting their joint Instagram statement.
According to insiders, the pair are determined to keep the separation âclassyâ and remain close friends despite deciding to go their separate ways romantically.
A source said: âAfter they released the statement, Vernon and Tess took a moment to toast each other and their futures. They only want the best for each other and their family. There has been no big fallout, more a gradual growing apart and wanting different things.â
The insider added that both stars are focused on protecting their daughters Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16, and are committed to staying supportive parents throughout the transition.
Friends close to the couple say the split was not caused by cheating or explosive arguments, but rather years of slowly drifting apart while living increasingly separate lives.
One source explained: âWithout really meaning to, they had been living separate lives. They donât really do much together any more and realised they wanted different things from life.â
Despite the separation, Vernon and Tess are reportedly still living together for now at the family home in Beaconsfield, though that is expected to change in the coming months.
The pair first met in 2001 while working together on Top Of The Pops@Play and quickly became one of British televisionâs most beloved couples. Vernon proposed to Tess on Christmas Day the following year, and they married in Lancashire in 2003.
Over the years, they built a reputation as one of showbizâs strongest marriages â even surviving Vernonâs infamous âsextingâ scandal involving model Rhian Sugden back in 2010.
In their official statement announcing the split, the couple insisted there were âno other parties involvedâ and stressed that they remain âgreat friends.â
They wrote: âAfter much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably.
âWe remain great friends and, most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority.â
As fans continue to react to the heartbreaking news, many have praised the couple for handling the situation with dignity â even as the end of one of British TVâs longest-running relationships leaves viewers devastated.
