Tess Daly and Vernon Kay shocked fans when they announced they were separating after 22 years of marriage. The pair met at a BBC Christmas party in 2001 before tying the knot in September 2003. They went on to welcome daughters Phoebe, 21, and 16-year-old Amber. The former Strictly Come Dancing presenter, 57, and the BBC Radio 2 DJ, 52, shared a joint statement announcing their split on Friday (May 8), stressing that no third party was involved in their decision.
They wrote: "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 of what is best for both of us.
Read more: Inside night Vernon Kay and Tess Daly split after sad toast
Read more: Inside Tess Daly and Vernon Kay's 'tearful' split after 22 years
"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."
While it appeared as a shock to many, there were a few signs that the couple's marriage was on the rocks.
By the look of Tess and Vernon's social media pages, it suggests they had been living separate lives for at least a few months.
From following social media clues, it appears that the pair have been living fairly separate lives for at least a few months.
Snaps from their Instagram pages show them spending time separately with their two daughters, rather than together as a family unit.
Vernon recently shared an image of himself enjoying drinks with Phoebe alongside the caption: "Ahhhhh Summer nights in London on the @thechanceryrosewood rooftop with @phoebeekay The best view on a clear blue evening sky…"
Meanwhile, Tess also appeared to enjoy some one-on-one time with Phoebe, sharing a photo of the pair posing together on a bridge.
She captioned it: "Got my Phoebe back for a few days and making the most of every moment."
It has also been a while since Tess or Vernon have featured on each other's social media pages. The last time they appeared together on Tess's grid was in February, when they hosted The One Show together.
However, it was a group image, with guests Yerin Ha, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessie Buckley and Luke Thompson standing between the couple.
Meanwhile, Vernon's most recent post featuring Tess was also in February, when they visited their daughter in New York.
Despite the pair jetting off on a family holiday to the Caribbean in April, neither made it onto each other's social media page.
It is understood that they went public with their decision to split after returning from the Caribbean, which they reportedly attended as friends.
Along with this, Tess shared a cryptic social media post about "finding peace", which was liked by her friend and former Strictly co-host Claudia Winkleman.
During Tess's recent interview with Hello! Magazine, she spoke about various aspects of her life, however, mentions of Vernon were notably absent.
She spoke about her swimwear brand, NAIA Beach, as well as being awarded an MBE by King Charles in November.
The TV host also said: "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."
Meanwhile, Vernon recently admitted things within their family had changed during an interview with The Times.
He 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."
Tess's schedule has now freed up following her exit from Strictly Come Dancing, which she has hosted since its inception in 2004.
Sources have now claimed that Tess wants to spend more time travelling, although insiders noted that such plans may not fit easily around Vernon's schedule on BBC Radio 2.
With Daly’s schedule freeing up after leaving her role on Strictly Come Dancing, sources have claimed that she wants to enjoy a year of travelling - something that wouldn’t go well with Kay’s radio schedule.
A source told Closer that the presenter is "desperate to see the world", adding: "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."
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