Tess Daly eyed 'selfish' gap year before Vernon Kay marriage split

Tess Daly considered a 'grown-up gap year' before announcing her split from Vernon Kay after 22 years

Tess Daly reportedly expressed a desire to take a “grown-up gap year” and travel before she and Vernon Kay confirmed their split after more than 22 years of marriage.

According to reports cited by Closer magazine and The Mirror, the former Strictly Come Dancing presenter had been considering stepping away from work commitments to spend a year travelling following her departure from the BBC dance show. The move was said to come after years of focusing on family and career responsibilities.

A source claimed that Daly, 57, wanted to make the most of her newly available time after leaving Strictly Come Dancing, where she co-hosted alongside Claudia Winkleman until 2025. The insider suggested she felt she had “missed out” on extended travel experiences despite a long and successful broadcasting career.

However, Vernon Kay, 52, who hosts BBC Radio 2’s weekday morning show, was reportedly unable to commit to a full year away due to his broadcasting schedule. The source added that while longer travel was not possible, the couple had discussed taking shorter trips together.

Despite speculation around their differing plans, sources stressed that the separation remains amicable. Friends of the couple told The Mirror that the decision had been discussed for some time and that no one had yet moved out of the family home.

Daly and Kay confirmed their split in a joint Instagram statement, saying the decision came from “mutual understanding” and a shared focus on their children. They also emphasised there were “no other parties involved” and requested privacy as they navigate their separation.

The couple, who married in 2003 after meeting in the early 2000s, share two daughters and have remained key figures in UK television and radio.