‘Hurry home!’ Vernon Kay pines for his wife Tess Daly as he watches her host Strictly

Vernon Kay was pining for his wife Tess Daly as he watched her host Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday evening.

The TV presenter, 46, is clearly thrilled to be back in the comfort of his own home after his gruelling stint on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

The All Star Family Fortunes host shared a photo of his wife, 51, presenting Strictly as he asked her to ‘hurry home’.

Alongside the snap of Tess, with Craig Revel Horwood in the background, Vernon wrote: ‘Hurry home @tessdaly !! @bbcstrictly what a show, @craigrevel you’re welcome too!! (So good to be dust and smoke free! No Rice and Beans!!!!)’.

Tess reassured her beau she’d be home soon as she wrote back: ‘See you soon @vernonkay put the kettle on ❤️✨’.

The Strictly host also reposted Vernon’s photo to her Instagram and added: ‘SEE YOU SOON @vernonkay ❤️’.

It comes after Vernon admitted being away from Tess and their daughters Phoebe, 16, and Amber, 11, in Gwrytch Castle left him ’emotionally drained’. 

He told the Daily Star: ‘When you’re in there, you are emotionally drained because you are missing your family. I felt comfortable with that group of ­people that I could cry. I didn’t think about trying to stop myself from ­getting emotional.

‘You are physically drained, too. We were eating nothing but rice and beans most of the time. I lost two-and-a-half stone – that’s weight I didn’t really have to lose.

‘Tess is so, so proud. She is just elated. She said that all three of them jumped through the roof when I got to the final. They were glued to the TV.’ 

Vernon was brought to tears numerous times during his time on the series and at one point became emotional while in the bush telegraph.  

Speaking to his wife through the camera, he said: ‘Tess, I love you baby forever and ever’. 

Now that he is home once again, Vernon is set to feast like a true king, after placing third during Friday night’s finale.

After learning that her husband had lost a jaw-dropping 30lb during his month-long stint in the Welsh castle, Tess went out to buy him an array of tasty treats on Saturday morning. 

Taking to Instagram to share the contents of her bulging Waitrose bag, the blonde beauty wrote: ‘Vern told me he’s lost 30lbs in weight! So I’ve been shopping to get some of his fave foods ready for his return.’ 

As she rummaged through the delights awaiting him, which included bacon, meatballs and Turkish Delight, she added of the contents: ‘Mostly meat, chocolate and of course his favourite Yorkshire Tea bags.’ 

She also shared a snap of some biscuits baked by their daughters who baked yellow star-shaped biscuits which read ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!’ and were surrounded by jelly worms.  

When Vernon’s departure from Gwrych Castle was announced on Friday, Tess shared a heartfelt tribute to her husband, declaring: ‘He’s made us beyond proud!’ 

Tess gushed as she took to her Instagram Stories to share a screengrab from the last FaceTime conversation they had before he went into camp three weeks ago.

The TV personality said on her Instagram Stories: ‘Wow. That was a rollercoaster. What a brilliant series. Vernon went in there and he wanted to make us proud and he’s done that with bells on.  

‘Massive congratulations to Giovanna – Queen of the Castle. And I just can’t wait for him to come home. Yes, Vernon, the fridge is full.’  

Tess shared a collage photograph from her husband’s Instagram account, and accompanied it with a gushing caption.

She wrote: ‘LOVE YOU VERN What a rollercoaster… he went in wanting to make us proud, and he made us beyond proud!!

‘He’s a winner in our eyes and we’re just chuffed to have him home! But that cashmere blanket’s going straight in the wash… [laughing face emojis]’

‘Huge congratulations to @mrsgifletcher and a massive thank YOU for posting, voting, phoning and cheering him on all the way… the support has been overwhelming, we are stunned and so grateful xxx.’

Upon his exit, Verne admitted he’s achieved his goal of ‘making his girls’ proud, and insisted third place exceeded his expectations.

Vernon was the first to leave the camp during Friday’s final – which took place in North Wales for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic – leaving behind eventual runner-up Jordan North and Queen of the Castle Giovanna Fletcher.

Speaking after his exit, Vernon told show hosts Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly: ‘[I’m] ecstatic. I’m over the moon to be in third place.

‘It’s been an awesome camp, and [ecstatic] is the best word to describe it. It’s been well and truly awesome.’

Asked if he feels like he’s achieved his goal of making his wife and daughters Phoebe and Amber proud, the TV star admitted: ‘Yeah I really do. I think, third place for me is more than my expectations. 

‘It’s been phenomenal. It really has. I genuinely I think I’m going to take stuff out of that camp and really use it for the rest of my life.’ 

The Family Fortunes host admitted he was surprised to have made it all the way to the final, especially after the shock departure of Shane Richie on Thursday.  

When asked if he was surprised by his place, he said: ‘Yeah, I am actually. There were some real strong characters in there.

‘As we saw last night, that was a real shock that Shane left. That’s why I was like, “No way!”, it was a real shock.

‘He’d been that guy who propped up the morale in camp, he’d always been there with a joke, and all that means something when you’re in there.

‘We’ve had a lot of dips, and to be lifted up by him playing that role has been brilliant.’

Venon added: ‘We said today this is it this is the show, big tick, completed it, I’ve done every day!’ 

Offering advice to other celebrities yet to take part, he said: ‘It was everything and more it really was everything and more, and I think if anyone gets asked to do it in the future don’t even hesitate!’ 

Once out of the running, Vernon confessed he would love to see BBC Radio 1 DJ Jordan crowned King of the Castle. 

He revealed: ‘They’ve both played real significant individual roles, they really have. Gi’s been there for everyone, but for the journey, for what he was and now what he is, Jordan [should win].’

After it was revealed he had come in third, Vernon hugged his competitors and said: ‘Well done you two, I’ve had the best time, you’ve been awesome.’ 

After Shane Richie’s departure on Thursday, the trio were in shock as they said goodbye to the EastEnders star.

Vernon said he was in ‘complete and utter shock’ with the result, and added: ‘He’s been a top bloke. It means the world for me that I’m in the final. I’m flabbergasted.’