Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly has been married to ITV star Vernon Kay for 20 years and the couple have two children
Liam Ryder Digital Production Editor
13:35, 23 Oct 2025
Tess Daly will return to her “lifelong dream” at her quiet countryside home after leaving her iconic Strictly Come Dancing role.
The star, who has co-hosted Strictly for 21 years, announced her departure in an emotional statement. She called the show “more than just a television programme” and compared it to “having a third child” and “a second family.”
Her current co-host, Claudia Winkleman, will also depart. Tess said it was “the right time to hand over the reins.”
But her life away from the glitter is arguably just as enriching as her on-screen career. Tess lives with husband Vernon Kay in a quiet countryside town often labelled one of the country’s best places to live.
Tess and Claudia announced their departure from Strictly to the shock of fans(Image: Comic Relief, Getty Images)
The couple are proud owners of a lavish six-bedroom property in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, and often offer glimpses of their luxurious abode on social media. Fans have spotted the TV power couple around the town, enjoying leisurely strolls and indulging in a bit of retail therapy.
Having moved to Beaconsfield over two decades ago to escape the hustle and bustle of London, Tess and Vernon have seamlessly integrated into local life. The pair have been known to visit attractions such as Bekonscot Model Village and Railway.
Their expansive home boasts grounds large enough to keep horses, realising a long-held dream for Tess. The star admitted to harbouring dreams of owning ponies — and her Beaconsfield property includes paddocks for her two Shetland ponies, Honey and Willow.
One of Tess’s Instagram posts reads: “It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to own a pony; and now, after months in the planning, it’s finally a reality! Not one but two beautiful new additions to the family; here’s Honey and (swipe for) her best friend Willow.”
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Additional features of the property include a spacious conservatory kitchen, a private swimming pool, and a home gym. Tess has shared images of herself engaging in a bit of DIY as they spruce up the property they share with their two daughters, Phoebe and Amber.
The couple, clearly fond of the great outdoors, frequently enjoy their expansive garden. With romantic summer evenings spent outside, Tess often showcases the impressive outdoor space on her Instagram page.
Who could blame them for spending so much time in the garden? It would be a shame not to make use of their portable dining dome adorned with fairy lights.
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The pair also spend time tending to vegetables, as highlighted in another Instagram post: “NEW PROJECT We made a tiny ‘experimental’ vegetable plot & planted these at the start of lockdown, and am now chuffed to bits as the first raspberries & strawberries have just made an appearance.
“Been making a conscious effort to boost the old wellbeing by staying positive & engaged in enriching activities, and it feels good growing stuff.”
