Vernon Kay has showed support to his wife Tess Daly after she received her MBE award yesterday, November 12. The Strictly Come Dancing co-host was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting and received the honour at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.
Speaking after the investiture, Tess said: “This is probably the greatest honour of my career and it still feels quite surreal to be honest with you. I’ve been working in television for 25 years, and it’s a job I absolutely love to do.
“It was a real privilege to be in a room of people who have made a difference in their communities, who have built incredible careers. It was a very inspiring environment.”
She attended the ceremony with her husband Vernon Kay and her two children, Vernon marked the special occasion with a heartfelt message shared on Instagram. He said: “Huge congratulations Tess, since we met your drive, dedication, focus and professionalism in how you work and live is a huge inspiration.
“You deserve your MBE today. 21 years at the helm of Strictly Come Dancing is a record for any female in entertainment telly. Let’s pop those corks!”
It has been an eventful couple of weeks for Tess as she and Strictly co-host Claudia Winkleman announced they would be stepping away from the BBC dance show at the end of the ongoing series.
Tess has been part of the presenting line-up since the first show in 2004 and said she feels now is the right time to go. She said: “After 21 unforgettable years, the time has come to say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing. It’s hard to put into words what this show has meant to me, so here goes….
“Strictly has been more than just a television programme. It’s felt like having a third child, a second family, and a huge part of my life since that very first show back in 2004. I knew then it was something special, but I could never have imagined the magic it would bring.
“Strictly has always been about joy, celebration, and bringing people together – and I’m so proud to have played a small part in something that continues to mean so much to so many.”
After this decision was made, Vernon once again showed support for his wife as he reposted her statement alongside a red heart emoji. The couple met in 2001 and got married in 2003. When they first met, Vernon and Tess were both starting their TV careers and grew closer when they were tasked with recreating a Britney Spears video together.
The celebrity couple share two children, they have Phoebe who was born in 2004 and Amber who was born in 2009. Talking about being a dad, Vernon previously told the Daily Mail: “We let them be independent when it comes to their futures because it’s important that you allow them to find themselves which is character building and personality development.”
Tess first appeared on TV screens in 1999 when she hosted The Big Breakfasts’ Find Me A Model competition on Channel 4. Other presenting roles have included Just the Two of Us on BBC One and Royal Variety Performance.