VERNON Kay has revealed his and wife Tess Daly’s novel approach to parenting their two daughters.
The TV power couple are two of the smiliest people in entertainment, but behind the scenes they take it in turns to lay down the law at home for Phoebe, 20, and Amber, 16.
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In a new interview, Vernon, 51, explained: “We play good cop, bad cop, but alternate the roles. You have to keep ’em guessing. They’ll always be my little girls.”
And when it comes to what Phoebe and Amber do with their lives in womanhood, Vernon and Tess are anything but pushy parents.
Radio 2 host Vernon told the Mirror: “We’ve not pushed them in a certain direction to continue their education or whatever. It’s totally up to them.
“As a parent, you can only hold their hand and say, ‘This is right or wrong’ for so long. There’s got to be a point where you take them off the lead and let them discover life.”
Tess and Vernon first set eyes on each other at the BBC’s annual Christmas party in 1999.
They hit it off after bonding over the fact they were both Northerners – with Vernon born in Bolton and Tess from Stockport.
“She didn’t know anyone except me because we’d worked together that day – she spotted me in a crowd and we had a laugh,” Vernon previously revealed.
“I was instantly attracted by how independent Tess was, and that’s not changed at all.”
And the feeling was mutual, with Tess also admitting there was an instant connection.
Speaking to Digital Spy, the TV presenter said: “It was all quite immediate, really, because we instantly had such a blast together.
“I couldn’t imagine having more fun with anyone else. It was pretty explosive, I tell you.”
The couple married in 2003 at St Mary’s Church in Horwich and live in a Buckinghamshire mansion complete with a gym and huge garden.
They secretly renewed their vows in the south of France in 2015.
Vernon recalled the special occasion during his time on ITV‘s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and explained: “We did it in France, about five years ago.
“I booked a weekend in our favourite hotel in the south of France and I spoke to her (Tess’) stylist at the time and I said I needed four dresses.”
He added: “She didn’t know anything. I said I needed four dresses and I gave her a card and it said congratulations on your second wedding day and I said we’re going to renew our vows.”
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Vernon revealed that lockdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic helped strengthen his marriage to Tess.
He said it allowed them the chance to “re-connect” and “get under the skin” of their relationship.
In a podcast, Vernon added: “I did everything – repainted the gutters, realigned the gutters, jet-washed.’
“Tess even replastered a part of our conservatory, she learnt how to do it on YouTube, that’s how we filled our time.’
“Then we’d get to: ‘Let’s have a drink!’ Why not?”
