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 went on to share deep admiration for everyone who has been involved in the show, branding them the "kindest, most fun, loyal, and hardest-working team in television".

The mum-of-two said fans are at the heart of the show and admitted Strictly has been 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 to a shock for fans, but also those involved with the show, who had no idea the announcement was coming. Appearing on Loose Women, judge Craig Revel Horwood admitted he learned the news at the same time as the public.

He was asked by the hosts: "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."

This is a breaking live TV story, theShowbiz Express.co.uk team will be updating this story with the latest information as soon as we receive it. For further updates, please refresh the page

You can also get email updates on the day's biggest TV stories straight to your inbox by_signing up for our TV newsletter.

Get all the very best news, pictures, opinion and video on your favourite TV shows by followingExpress.co.uk every time you see our name.

• Follow Express on Google News -CLICK HERE

• Follow Express on Apple News -_ CLICK HERE__ available on Apple devices_

• Follow Express on _Flipboard - _CLICK HERE and click follow

You can also sign up for Twitter alerts for breaking news and all the latest updates by following@Daily_Express, or for the latest TV and showbiz news, follow@expressceleb

Keep up-to-date with your must-see TV stories, features, videos and pictures throughout the day by following us on Facebook at

Express Celebrity