Vernon Kay credits 'difficult' move as key to his long-lasting marriage with Tess Daly

Vernon Kay has opened up about the secret to his successful marriage with Tess Daly, revealing that communication, privacy, and cherishing their bond are crucial. The couple, who met over two decades ago at a BBC Christmas party, tied the knot in 2003 and are proud parents to Phoebe, 20, and Amber, 15.

Reflecting on their 21-year marriage, Vernon, 50, emphasised the importance of being open with each other no matter how difficult the subject is. "I think marriage is a roller coaster, you know, you have peaks and troughs," he shared.

"And what I've learned from the whole of that is it's really difficult to talk, but it's really easy to talk. You've got to bite your lip and just go, I'm gonna say this."

The BBC Radio 2 presenter also highlighted the value of addressing issues promptly and not letting it boil over. He added: "Put the kettle on, say it. 'I don't think we should be doing this. Maybe what if we do that? I'm feeling this, dah dah dah, dah'. You know what I mean? Like communication is the most important thing, in anything and in particular in a relationship."

He further noted the importance of recognising personal growth within a partnership, adding: "You might not be necessarily be the person that the other person married, you're changing. So it's that evolution that you need to coincide with your partner and that can only be done through communication."

Additionally, the presenter addressed the importance of keeping his marriage and family life private. Speaking on Annie Mac's Changes podcast back in June, he privacy was "priceless because it's very difficult to maintain".

Vernon and Tess made a conscious decision to keep their daughters' identities out of the public eye until 2020, when he participated in the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! jungle.

Since then, their eldest daughter has gained more visibility through photoshoots and red-carpet appearances with the couple. In a previous conversation about her future aspirations, Phoebe expressed her desire to follow in her parents' footsteps in the entertainment industry, either as an actress or in a production role.

She shared with The Sun's Fabulous Magazine: "I'd love to act, but will leave presenting to my mum and dad. I'm just trying to understand what I want to do.

"I think you go to uni to figure out what you want to do in life. I'd like to do some work experience as it's hands-on, even if I start as a runner and work my way up."

Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 7.05pm on BBC One.