Vernon Kay breaks silence with emotional seven-word message as Tess Daly quits Strictly

BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay has spoken out after his wife Tess Daly announced she has quit Strictly Come Dancing. The presenter, 56, has fronted the BBC show since its launch in 2004 and has co-hosted alongside Claudia Winkleman since 2014. On Thursday (October 23), the TV duo shared a joint statement confirming that this will be their final series presenting the beloved programme. Shortly after the announcement, Vernonm who has been married to Tess since 2003, took to Instagram to repost an artist's sketch of his wife and her Strictly co-star.

"What a fantastic duo they have been," he wrote above the image. Alongside their joint statement, Tess and Claudia penned their own separate messages from fans. Tess wrote: "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."

The presenter expressed pride in being part of the show and reflected fondly on working with Sir Bruce Forsyth during the first few series. She also shared heartfelt admiration for everyone involved, describing them as the "kindest, most fun, loyal, and hardest-working team in television.

The mum-of-two acknowledged that fans are the heart of the show and described Strictly as one of the "greatest joys" of her career.

She added: "To my beloved Claud - what an absolute joy and pleasure it has been sharing this adventure with you. You're one of a kind, and I'll treasure every giggle, every live show, and every backstage moment we've shared. I'm so grateful to have you as my friend for life.

"This isn't a goodbye to glitter, sequins, or Saturday night sparkle (I could never say goodbye to those!). Strictly will forever hold a special place in my heart - but it does feel like the right time to hand over the reins. With all my love and endless gratitude, Tess x."

The news came as a shock not only to fans but also to those involved with the show, who were unaware the announcement was coming. Appearing on Loose Women, judge Craig Revel Horwood revealed he learned about it at the same time as the public.

The hosts asked Craig: "Did you know?" To which he responded: "No! 10 o'clock this morning, like everyone else, I found out." Asked if he found out through social media, Craig confessed: "Yeah! Well everything pings off, my watch went ping and there it was!"

Craig admitted he was "saddened" by the shocking news, adding: "I really love them. Obviously I've been working on the show from the beginning with the gorgeous Tess since May 2004. It's the end of an era. But I know that people need to move on as well, I get that.

"I wish them all the luck and every good wish in the world. Now I'm just going to love seeing this out until Christmas. I celebrate people moving on. I think it's always a good thing as well, personally, for people to move on."