Lockdown’s made my marriage to Tess even stronger says Vernon
VERNON Kay says lockdown has improved his marriage to Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly and they have “reconnected”.
The pair, who have been married for more than 16 years, have faced scrutiny about their relationship when Vernon confessed to texting glamour model Rhian Sugden in 2010 and again in 2015.
But in a rare interview, Vernon said of lockdown: “At first it took a lot of getting used to because we do enjoy our freedoms, the simple things like just nipping to the shop or going out for a beer with your mates – general social gatherings that you take for granted and once they’ve gone you think, ‘Right, what am I going to do?’.
“The positive thing is that it’s enabled us to really get to know each other.
“When you’re in a working relationship, you wake up, you go to work, you get back and you have your dinner, kids doing their homework, you go to bed. So you only really see each other for four or five hours in a day, if that.
“When you’re in lockdown and spending 24/7 with each other it gives you the chance to reconnect.
“You really get under the skin of your relationships with your kids and your missus.” Vernon, 46, lives in Buckinghamshire with Tess, 51, and their two daughters, Phoebe and Amber.
They have been seen recently on social media keeping fit and home-schooling the children.
Tess has started growing fruit and vegetables in the garden.
Speaking on the Humans of XS Manchester podcast, Vernon also told how he has gained credibility from his children in lockdown.
He said: “Phoebe and Amber are getting into 90s hip hop and R&B. They’ve got TLC and Destiny’s Child on the stereo.
“So I’ll dig out some old T4 interview and they’re like, ‘Oh my god, there’s you with Beyonce.’ And I’m like, ‘Yep’.”
Vernon and Tess married in 2003 and have weathered several storms surrounding Vernon’s texts to other women. Speaking in 2017, Tess said: “All marriages have their moments. Marriage is a work in progress.Vernon and I are just people at the end of the day.”