Tess Daly admits Vernon Kay is the ‘strict parent’ as she gives rare insight into family life with her husband and two teenage daughters

Tess Daly says husband Vernon Kay is the strict parent to the couple’s two daughters, Phoebe, 19, and Amber, 14.

The Strictly Come Dancing presenter has given a rare insight into her home life in Buckinghamshire with Radio 2 star Vernon and their teenagers.

Tess, 54, revealed her approach to raising teenage girls and explained how important she believes it is to be present.

“As a mother, I just want to be as present as I can. I’m proud of that,” she told OK! “Teenagers don’t always want to talk to you, but even if you’re just physically in the room with them… I’ll just quietly plop myself down there in the corner.”

“You have two little people who have become young adults. It’s amazing and continually rewarding. I love being a mother; it is my most important job.’

Tess went on to explain how she and 49-year-old Vernon make a great team, but her husband is more strict.

“Vernon is a great dad, he loves them dearly. I don’t know if there’s a good cop or a bad cop, but maybe he’s a little stricter sometimes. But it’s for the greater good and we’re a good team.”

‘I’m proud of how down-to-earth they are. That’s what you want: kids who are nice, have a good work ethic and respect people. You’re just trying to build good people.”

Tess and Vernon’s eldest daughter is currently studying at drama school.

Last year, Tess admitted that she follows Phoebe through an app because she is concerned about her safety while driving alone.

She revealed on the Spinning Plates podcast that her eldest is now a driver, which is the reason for her concerns.

She said: ‘When your child starts driving, it’s a whole new minefield. I have the app LIFE360 and I obsessively follow Phoebe with it until she reaches her destination.

“It’s because she’s a new driver. And the relief when I see that she has achieved it. . . you never stop worrying.

Tess went on to explain how she and Vernon, 49, make a great team, but her husband is stricter (Vernon is pictured with eldest daughter Phoebe in 2023)

The Strictly host joked: ‘She’s only gone for 20 minutes and I’m a nervous wreck. It is ridiculous. Loosen the belt!’

Despite her concerns, she admitted that she lets her girls determine their own path in life, sharing that she and Vernon have a “great relationship” with them.

She said, “You just have to advise them and gently show them the way. It should feel like they are making their own decisions in life.

‘But as they get older, they need more. They need more life advice, there seems to be more mental attitude. You never stop parenting. I don’t know when that all-seeing eye will end.’

Last year, Vernon said he doesn’t want his children to live off his and wife Tess’ fame, insisting they were “making their own careers.”

He told MailOnline that he and Tess believe it is important for their descendants to ‘find themselves’ and not have their ‘life on a plate’, crediting the couple’s northern backgrounds for shaping their parenting beliefs.

Tess, 54, revealed her approach to raising teenage girls and explained how she thinks being present is important

Vernon said, “We let them be independent when it comes to them and their future because it’s important that you allow them to find themselves, which is character building and personality development.

“Sometimes I think the old silver spoon and the life on a plate in front of it… I think that’s kind of at odds with what you want them to be.

‘Tess and I grew up in strong, healthy northern families and that’s a huge attribute that has helped us in our personal development and I think that’s really important.’

He added: “I don’t disagree with anyone who does that by helping their children, which is great, but I think sometimes for us personally, whatever they’re into, they can go and discover themselves .’