Just a week after their shocking split made headlines, Tess Daly and Vernon Kay were spotted smiling together at the Pub In The Park festival — but behind the cameras, things are far from harmonious.
Insiders reveal that tension is mounting at the £5million Buckinghamshire mansion the couple still share. “Since the split, Tess has set some firm house rules,” says a source. “They’re trying to stay amicable, but Vernon has to remember they’re both single now. She feels the household dynamics shifted overnight.”
The insider adds, “Sometimes Tess feels like Vernon’s a live-in student. He’s in and out, raids the fridge, leaves plates in the sink. She feels demoted, like their marriage has been swept aside while he’s already enjoying single life.”
Married in 2003, Tess, 57, and Vernon, 51, share two daughters: Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16. The pair stressed in their split announcement that it was a mutual decision, aimed at prioritising their family.
But friends say Tess knows a major change is coming. “She’s told friends something has to shift in their living arrangements — sooner rather than later. To protect their friendship and keep things civil, Vernon will need to move out.”
Even amid public smiles, the reality at home is clear: the next chapter for Tess and Vernon means redefining life — and the house — on very separate terms.
