Vernon Kay made a telling confession about his marriage to Tess Daly just days before they announced their split. The TV couple, who first met in 2001 and tied the knot in 2003, confirmed they were separated in matching statements on social media.

They confirmed the end of their 22-year marriage on Friday, May 8th, 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. We kindly ask for privacy during this time as we navigate this transition together. We will not be making any further public comments."

Vernon, 52, opened up about his family, 57, on April 27th, hinting that their dynamic was changing as their two daughters, Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 17, grew older.

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."

Vernon added: "That's one thing that Tess and I decided early on. We talked openly about everything from the moment we realised the girls could understand [the subject] ... Communication is everything."

The pair had not been sharing pictures of each other on their social media page for months, as Tess had not posted a snap of Vernon since February, when they hosted The One Show together.

This was the first time they had been presented together in two decades. Just one day before they announced their split, they had both posted separate pictures with their daughter Phoebe, who has returned home from the US after moving there earlier this year.