Vernon Kay left a heartwarming comment on his ex Tess Daly’s Instagram as he reacted to her trip to New York City with their daughters Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 17.
The Radio 2 presenter, 52, and the former Strictly host, 57, announced in May they had split up after 23 years together and described the breakup as “amicable”.
Tess took to Instagram on Saturday and shared several photos of her and Phoebe’s recent trip to the Big Apple and captioned it: “NYC with my best girls”.
Vernon was among those who commented, writing: “What a few days” along with a heart emoji and a fire emoji.
In one photo, Tess looked incredible in a gold and white off-the-shoulder top and white trousers as she posed alongside Phoebe on a street corner.
Another snap saw the family enjoying lunch at a rooftop restaurant with a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline in the background.
Tess also shared a photo of Phoebe in a white T-shirt and a black mini skirt as she struck a playful pose while crossing the street.
Statement
Tess and Vernon announced their breakup with a joint statement, saying: “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.”
The split came just three months after the couple hosted an episode of The One Show together, where Vernon introduced his wife as “TV royalty” and said she would keep him “in check”.
It marked the latest big change in Tess’ life after she stepped away from presenting Strictly Come Dancing at the end of 2025 after hosting for 19 years.
Relationship history
Tess and Vernon met in 2001 while he was presenting T4. They married two years later in a low-key ceremony held at St Mary’s Church in Horwich, Vernon’s hometown.
They welcomed oldest daughter Phoebe in 2004 and her sister Amber four-and-a-half years later.
Back in 2023, Tess confessed that she still got “butterflies” whenever she received a text notification from her husband. In a TikTok video, the presenter said: “We celebrate our 20-year anniversary in September, and we still sit down for dinner and have so much to talk about – we just have a real laugh.”
“I see when his name comes up on his phone, I’m like ‘yay’. We have a good laugh, he’s always messing about, dancing and singing in the kitchen. Never a dull moment.”
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