Tess Daly's unexpected U-turn with Vernon Kay after 'selfish' reason jeopardised love life

Tess Daly has opened up about the "selfish" reason that prevented her from starting a family sooner than she did with husband Vernon Kay. The couple, who first crossed paths at a BBC Christmas party over two decades ago, tied the knot in 2003.

Prior to their romance and subsequent marriage, Tess, 55, was a model in the fashion industry while Vernon, 50, was a Channel 4 presenter. When recently asked if she had always envisioned motherhood in her future, she revealed: "I had that sort of subconscious feeling that I was going to be a mum, but I wasn't one of those people who planned it.

"For me, it took meeting the right person, which was Vernon. I met him and thought, oh, suddenly, you know, I can see it."

Tess says her initial "selfish" thoughts may have been down to the fact she lived all over the world as part of her modelling career. She added on the Spinning Plates with Sophie Ellis Bextor podcast last year: "It was never the right time because I was never settled in the right place with the right person."

Everything then changed for the host when she crossed paths with Vernon. "Then I met him and it suddenly felt like ok this is, biologically, I think I was like 31 then," she added.

"So my clock was probably going tick tick, you better find someone." Tess and Vernon have since welcomed their two daughters into the world; Phoebe, 20, and Amber, 15.

Ahead of the couple's 21st wedding anniversary earlier this year, the BBC Radio 2 host shared insights into what makes their marriage a success. On Annie Mac's Changes podcast, he emphasised the importance of communication, no matter how tough the conversation.

"I think marriage is a roller coaster. You know, your peaks and troughs," he reflected. "And what I've learned