Tess Daly and Vernon Kay remain a major talking point in UK entertainment after ending their 22-year marriage in 2026. The latest development came in September, when the former couple reunited with their two daughters for a family holiday in the south of France. Their time together has attracted attention because it followed their announcement that they had decided to separate earlier in the year. However, the holiday does not confirm that they have rekindled their romantic relationship.
The couple announced their separation in May 2026 through a joint statement. They said the decision was made amicably, stressed that there were no other parties involved and explained that they intended to remain friends while continuing to support their daughters. Since then, both have continued with their professional lives, with Kay remaining a prominent BBC Radio 2 presenter and Daly moving on from her long-running role on Strictly Come Dancing.
What is the latest Tess Daly and Vernon Kay news?
The most significant recent update came on 2 September 2026, when Tess Daly shared photographs from a family holiday in France. The pictures showed Daly, Vernon Kay and their daughters, Phoebe and Amber, spending time together during what she described as the family’s “last blast of South of France summer”. The family was pictured together at a restaurant, while other images showed Daly enjoying the trip with her daughters.
The September reunion is important because it demonstrates that the pair can still spend family time together despite their separation. It should not, however, be interpreted as confirmation that they are back together. Their publicly stated position remains that they separated after 22 years of marriage and would continue to be supportive parents and friends. No announcement has been made confirming a romantic reconciliation.
Why did Tess Daly and Vernon Kay split?
The exact private reason for the separation has not been fully explained by Tess Daly or Vernon Kay. In their joint statement, they said they had reached the decision after “much consideration” and with care and respect for each other. They described the choice as difficult and said it came from mutual understanding and a shared desire for what was best for both of them. They also specifically stated that there were no other parties involved.
There has been considerable media speculation about what happened behind the scenes. Some reports attributed comments to friends who suggested that the couple had changed over time and wanted different things from their personal lives. Other reporting revisited Vernon Kay’s 2010 scandal involving several women, including Rhian Sugden. Those reports represent claims attributed to sources and should not be presented as the confirmed reason for the 2026 separation.
Are Tess Daly and Vernon Kay back together?
There is currently no confirmed announcement that Tess Daly and Vernon Kay have reunited as a couple. Their September 2026 family holiday may have prompted renewed public interest, but spending time together with their children is consistent with the commitment they made when announcing their separation.
The couple said in May that they intended to remain great friends and stay fully committed to being loving and supportive parents. Their holiday in France appears consistent with that public statement. Until either Daly or Kay says otherwise, the most accurate description is that they are separated former partners who continue to share family time.
When did Tess Daly and Vernon Kay announce their separation?
Announced their separation in May 2026 after 22 years of marriage. Their joint statement was shared through social media and explained that the decision had followed considerable thought and discussion.
The statement also asked for privacy while they adjusted to the change. Rather than blaming one another publicly, they presented the separation as a mutual decision and emphasised their responsibilities as parents. Vernon later addressed the reaction on BBC Radio 2, thanking listeners for their messages of support on behalf of himself and Tess.
The announcement surprised many followers because Daly and Kay had been regarded as one of Britain’s best-known presenting couples for more than two decades. Their careers had frequently overlapped in television and entertainment, while their family life had also remained familiar to the public.
How long were Tess Daly and Vernon Kay married?
Tess Daly and Vernon Kay married in September 2003 after meeting several years earlier. They first crossed paths in 2001 while both were developing careers as television presenters for rival channels. Their relationship developed after they met at a BBC Christmas party.
Kay proposed to Daly on Christmas Day 2002 at Daly’s parents’ home. They subsequently married near Kay’s hometown of Bolton in September 2003. The marriage lasted 22 years before the pair announced their separation in 2026.
Their relationship therefore covered a substantial part of both presenters’ professional careers. During that period, they became familiar faces across British television, with Daly strongly associated with Strictly Come Dancing and Kay building a career across television and national radio.
Do Tess Daly and Vernon Kay have children?
Yes. have two daughters, Phoebe and Amber. As of September 2026, Phoebe is 21 and Amber is 17. The couple made their children a central part of their statement when they announced their separation.
Rather than focusing only on their relationship as a former married couple, Daly and Kay have repeatedly emphasised their continuing responsibilities as parents. Their September family holiday also included both daughters, showing that the family continues to spend time together despite the change in their parents’ relationship.
Their approach also helps explain why photographs of the family together attracted so much attention. A separation does not necessarily mean that former partners stop attending family occasions or spending time with their children.
What happened to Vernon Kay after the split?
Vernon Kay continued his broadcasting career after the separation and remains a BBC Radio 2 presenter. Shortly after the announcement, he returned to his radio programme and thanked listeners for their support.
On 11 May 2026, Kay addressed the public reaction by thanking Radio 2 listeners on behalf of himself and Tess. His comments were brief and reflected the couple’s request for privacy rather than providing details about the reasons for their separation.
By September, Kay was continuing his radio work and promotional appearances connected with BBC Radio 2. Recent coverage also reported his involvement with Radio 2 in the Park, showing that his professional commitments continued alongside the major change in his personal life.
What happened to Tess Daly after leaving Strictly Come Dancing?
Tess Daly’s personal news arrived shortly after another major change in her career. She and Claudia Winkleman left Strictly Come Dancing at the end of the 2025 series after many years as the programme’s presenting team.
The BBC subsequently confirmed a new presenting trio for the 2026 series: Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe. The change means the 2026 series is the first in the show’s history without Daly as its long-running female presenter.
Daly’s departure from Strictly and her separation from Kay have therefore created two significant changes in her public life within a relatively short period. Nevertheless, she has continued to appear publicly and has remained active professionally, including sharing family and lifestyle updates with her followers.
What happened between Vernon Kay and Rhian Sugden?
Vernon Kay’s past involvement with Rhian Sugden has returned to media coverage following the 2026 separation. In 2010, Kay admitted sending explicit messages to several women and publicly apologised for his behaviour. The incident became a major story during his marriage to Daly.
At the time, Daly chose to remain with Kay. Reporting from that period quoted her describing their relationship as worth fighting for, while Kay accepted responsibility for his actions.
After the 2026 separation, some reports revisited the old scandal and claimed it remained an issue within the marriage. Those accounts came from attributed sources rather than from a joint explanation by Daly and Kay. The couple’s official statement did not blame the 2010 incident and specifically said there were no other parties involved in their decision to separate.
What does the France family holiday mean for their relationship?
The September 2026 holiday provides a useful picture of how Daly and Kay appear to be handling family life after their separation. The family of four travelled to France, with Daly sharing several photographs from the trip on Instagram.
The images included the former couple with their daughters as well as separate moments from Daly’s holiday. The public response focused heavily on the fact that the family was still spending time together despite the end of the marriage.
It is important not to read more into the photographs than they show. The holiday demonstrates that Daly and Kay can still share family time, but it does not establish that their marriage has been restored. Their most recent confirmed public position remains that they are separated and committed to supporting their daughters.
Vernon Kay and Tess Daly relationship timeline
The main milestones in their relationship can be summarised clearly:
- 2001: Tess Daly and Vernon Kay meet at a BBC Christmas party while developing their television careers.
- 2002: Kay proposes to Daly on Christmas Day.
- 2003: The couple marry near Bolton.
- 2004: Their first daughter, Phoebe, is born.
- 2009: Their second daughter, Amber, is born.
- 2010: Kay publicly apologises after admitting he sent explicit messages to several women.
- 2025: Daly and Claudia Winkleman leave Strictly Come Dancing after the 2025 series.
- May 2026: Daly and Kay announce that they have decided to separate after 22 years of marriage.
- May 2026: Kay thanks Radio 2 listeners for their support following the announcement.
- September 2026: Daly shares photographs from a family holiday in France attended by Kay and their two daughters.
This timeline shows why the latest family photographs attracted so much attention. The holiday came only a few months after the couple publicly confirmed the end of their marriage.
Is it worth following the latest Vernon Kay and Tess Daly news?
For people interested in British television, celebrity relationships and broadcasting, the story remains relevant because both presenters continue to have substantial professional profiles. The September family holiday also adds an important development to the story by showing how their family life has continued following the separation.
The most useful approach is to distinguish confirmed announcements from speculation. Daly and Kay have publicly confirmed their separation, their intention to remain supportive parents and their wish for privacy. They have not publicly confirmed that they have reunited romantically, nor have they provided a detailed explanation of every private factor behind their decision.
Following those confirmed details provides a clearer picture than relying on headlines or anonymous-source claims. Future developments should ideally be assessed against statements from Daly, Kay or reliable reporting that clearly identifies its sources.
What is the latest update on their family?
The latest major public update is the family’s September 2026 trip to France. Daly’s photographs showed her enjoying the holiday with Kay and their daughters, Phoebe and Amber.
The trip came several months after their separation announcement and therefore attracted considerable attention from fans and entertainment media. It also reflects the couple’s earlier promise to remain committed to their roles as parents.
For now, there is no confirmed evidence that the holiday represents a romantic reconciliation. The clearest factual description remains that Daly and Kay separated in 2026 but continue to share family experiences and support their daughters.
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Frequently asked questions
Are Tess Daly and Vernon Kay still together?
They announced their separation in May 2026 after 22 years of marriage. They have since been seen together as a family, including during a September holiday in France, but there has been no confirmed announcement that they have resumed their romantic relationship.
Why did Vernon Kay and Tess Daly split?
The couple has not publicly given a detailed private reason. Their joint statement described the decision as mutual and said there were no other parties involved. Later media reports attributed various explanations to friends, but these should be treated as reported claims rather than confirmed facts.
How many children do Vernon Kay and Tess Daly have?
They have two daughters, Phoebe and Amber. As of September 2026, Phoebe is 21 and Amber is 17.
Did Vernon Kay and Tess Daly go on holiday together?
Yes. In September 2026, Daly shared photographs showing the family enjoying a holiday in France with Kay and their two daughters.
Is Vernon Kay still on Radio 2?
Yes. Kay continues to work as a BBC Radio 2 presenter. After the separation announcement, he thanked Radio 2 listeners for their support on behalf of himself and Daly.
Conclusion
The latest Tess Daly and Vernon Kay news centres on their continued family connection following their 2026 separation. After 22 years of marriage, the pair announced in May that they had decided to separate and said they would remain supportive parents to their daughters, Phoebe and Amber. In September, they were pictured together during a family holiday in France, providing the latest public glimpse of how they are navigating life after their marriage.
The holiday has naturally prompted questions about whether Daly and Kay could be getting back together. At present, however, there is no confirmed announcement of a romantic reconciliation. The available evidence shows a former couple continuing to spend time together as a family. Kay remains active on BBC Radio 2, while Daly has moved on from Strictly Come Dancing after her long-running presenting role. For future updates, confirmed statements and reliable reporting remain more useful than speculation surrounding their private relationship.
