The $30 million split that wasn't

Tess Daly and Vernon Kay's 16-year marriage has come to an end , but the couple is determined to keep things amicable. According to a source close to the pair, there has been no big fallout, but rather a gradual growing apart and wanting different things.

The news of their shock separation comes 16 years after Vernon's sexting scandal with former glamour model Rhian Sugden... the scandal, which led to a public apology on BBC Radio 1, has left a lasting impact on Rhian's career, with her claiming it ruined everything for her.

Despite the drama, Vernon and Tess have vowed to stay friends and keep things classy. They are still living in the same property together in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, and have even posted an Instagram split statement while raising glasess of champagne.

Why 4,000 unsold units became the prize

The couple's daughters, Phoebe and Amber, are said to be supportive of their parents' decision to split. Vernon, 52, and Tess, 57, revealed their shock separation this month, admitting they had agonised over the decision but were determined to remain supportive parents.

Thanking well-wishers for their support, Vernon said: 'I just want to say on behalf of myself and Tess, thank you, thank you for all your well-wishes it's been greatly appreciated.'

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

The news of the couple's shock separation has echoes of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up, where a high-profile couple's split was met with an amicable response. however, the similarities end there, with Vernon and Tess's split being a more gradual and less dramatic affair.

As Rhian Sugden, the glamour model involved in Vernon's 2010 sexting scandal, said in a Channel 4 documentary, 'He just got away with it. It ruined everything for me. I wish I'd never met him.'

Who is the unnamed buyer?

Despite the drama surrounding their split, Vernon and Tess have remained tight-lipped about the details of their separation. However, a source close to the pair has revealed that they are keeping things classy and have vowed to stay friends.

The couple's split has left many wondering who is the unnamed buyer in this high-profile divorce. While the answer remains unclear, one thing is certain - Vernon and Tess's amicable split is a far cry from the drama that surrounded their marriage.