BBC Radio 2 star Vernon Kay shares Tess Daly's disappointment – saying 'I paid the price'

Vernon Kay has shared how he's going to make sure he gets everything right as he and his family prepare to make a big fuss over birthday girl Tess Daly this weekend

BBC Radio 2's Vernon Kay has given fans a glimpse into his family life, revealing the repercussions of disappointing his wife, Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly.

In a conversation with fellow Radio 2 presenter Ellie Brennan, Vernon mentioned they are facing a "double whammy in our house" this weekend as Tess celebrates her 56th birthday today (March 29) and looks forward to joining mothers nationwide in Mother's Day celebrations tomorrow.

Ellie disclosed that she hadn't received any presents from her partner before heading off to work on her own birthday.

Vernon empathised with her situation, reflecting on his past oversight and acknowledging he's "learnt his lesson".

Speaking directly to Ellie's other half, Vernon cautioned: "Steffan, been there, not done that and paid the price, so we are ready to go this weekend."

Additionally, the ex-Family Fortunes host shed more light on his partnership with Tess during a previous Radio 2 programme.

He shared a potential pitfall concerning baking for Tess: "Well, the thing is, Tess loves cake. Yeah, and if I was to attempt cake and it wasn't as good as what you can buy in the supermarket, then there'd be trouble, so I just buy in."

Vernon and Tess first crossed paths back in 2001 when both were establishing their career's in broadcasting – Vernon on Channel 4 and Tess on ITV; the duo made it official by getting hitched two years later.

Since then, the couple have welcomed two children into their family, Phoebe and Amber, born in 2004 and 2008 respectively.

In the subsequent years, the celebrity duo have enjoyed significant career triumphs, with appearances on both television and radio in recent times.

Vernon, in one of his first major TV roles, hosted Family Fortunes for over a decade before securing his own slot on BBC Radio 2's mid-morning show in 2023, taking over from Ken Bruce.

Likewise, Tess has also experienced a steep career ascent. Initially starting as a model, she later decided to venture into broadcasting.

After hosting a variety of shows including Smash Hits TV, SMTV Live and Back To Reality, her career pinnacle arrived in 2004 when she began co-hosting BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, a role she has maintained to this day.