“A Small Gesture That Says Everything.” Vernon Kay’s Quiet Holiday Habit With Tess Daly Has Shone a New Light on Devon’s Community Spirit — From Leaving Loved Books Behind Without Expectation, to Phone Boxes Turned Into Libraries, and the Deeply Personal Reason the TV Star Says This Simple Tradition Matters More to Him Now Than Ever, Leaving Listeners Touched, Locals Proud, and Fans Seeing the Couple’s Family Values in a Whole New Way
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Vernon Kay heaps praise on Devon after sharing touching gesture with wife Tess Daly
The BBC Radio 2 presenter spoke warmly about the region’s phone box libraries whilst revealing the simple but moving holiday habit he shares with Strictly Come Dancing star Tess Daly
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Vernon Kay and Tess Daly (Image: Lia Toby, Getty Images for the NTA’s)
Vernon Kay has expressed his fondness for Devon and its strong sense of community while revealing a small but heartwarming tradition he shares with his wife, Tess Daly.
The presenter, 51, reflected on the idea of sharing books while reading aloud a message from a listener during a recent segment on his BBC Radio 2 programme.
Sharing an email, Vernon revealed: “A Happy New Year, Vern! Wrapping up a used book is a great move. Don’t knock it — in our book club, we gift each other a copy of our own favourite book with notes on why it’s our favourite book and why we think the new owner will enjoy it!”
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The correspondence, sent in by Denise from Bedford, went on to explain how a well-loved cookbook had become a treasured gift for a new mother, highlighting the sentimental value of pre-owned books.
Vernon acknowledged that giving books should be thoughtful rather than rushed, joking that it should not feel like a last-minute solution. “Not last minute, though, is it… ‘Dad’s in hospital, forgot his Christmas present? Just wrap a book quick!’ It’s like wrapping a plate,” he chuckled, according to Cornwall Live.
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Vernon Kay and Tess Daly(Image: Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
His tone became more serious when discussing holidays, revealing the quiet tradition he and Tess have maintained over the years. “When we go on holiday, we always leave our books behind… just leave it, pass it on,” he explained.
This simple act, though modest, embodies the values Vernon and Tess have built into their family life. The couple first met in 2001 and married on 12 September 2003 during a ceremony at St Mary’s Church in Horwich, near Bolton, with close friends and family in attendance.
They are parents to two daughters, Phoebe, born in 2004, and Amber, born in 2009, and have often spoken about prioritising family time, particularly during school holidays, when their professional commitments allow.
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Tess and Vernon(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
It is during these breaks that Cornwall has left a particular impression on Vernon. He spoke enthusiastically about the county’s passion for communal reading spaces, saying: “I love it when you’re in Cornwall or Devon. It always seems to be a hotspot for old phone box libraries — you know, where it’s take a book, leave a book.”
He added that even ordinary venues have embraced the idea, noting that “our café in the train station has got one of them as well.”
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Vernon said he hopes the books he and Tess leave behind are discovered by other families or added to hotel libraries rather than discarded. “You would hope that the people who do the rooms afterwards don’t just launch them in the bin,” he said, praising establishments that create shared book collections for guests.
For Vernon, the appeal lies in connection rather than convenience. “It’s good. Pass it on. Why not?” he concluded.
