Vernon Kay has reportedly bought a property just 15 minutes away from his family home as he continues to work out his split from Tess Daly.

The BBC Radio 2 DJ is still living with his ex-wife but is said to be preparing to move out into his new home down the road.

Sources say Vernon is keen to stay near ex-Strictly host Tess and their two daughters.

The house, which is apparently worth £3million and includes a swimming pool and sprawling grounds, is undergoing renovations.

Vernon, 52, and Tess, 57, announced they were separating after 23 years of marriage in May but have remained friends.

A source told the Sun: 'Vernon has now bought a place close to the family home in Buckinghamshire.

'It means he can stay close to their girls, which is something important to both him and Tess. He's having renovations done and will move out when the house is ready. Tess is supporting him with the move.

'It's going to be very strange for them after living together for over two decades, so they're both treating the situation with care and respect.'

The Daily Mail has cintacted a spokesman for Vernon for comment. 

In May, Tess and Vernon revealed they were parting ways after 23 years of marriage, the statement shocking fans. 

In a joint announcement, the pair said they had reached a mutual agreement to go their separate ways, though friends of the couple said they were both still at their marital home in Beaconsfield.

They wrote: 'After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably.

'This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire of what is best for both of us.

'We remain great friends and, most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority. There are no other parties involved in this decision. We kindly ask for privacy during this time.

'We will not be making any further public comments.'

Tess and Vernon – thought to have personal fortunes of around £10million – were last seen publicly together in February of this year when they hosted an episode of The One Show. 

The couple have two daughters, Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 17. 

It was revealed earlier this month that Tess and Phoebe are 'working together' on a mystery project. 

Tess wore a lilac buttoned-up top and matching trousers, while Phoebe kept it stylish in a simple black vest top and embroidered dark denim jeans. 

Hinting at their upcoming joint project, Tess wrote: 'No longer bring your daughter to work day, but working alongside her.'

Tess and Phoebe's decision to work together comes after dad Vernon insisted he and Tess would not be raising their daughters to be pampered nepo babies.

Speaking in an interview in April, Vernon said he and Tess have always instilled a strong work ethic in their daughters, encouraging them to 'go out and graft'.

'Now that Phoebe is 21 and Amber is nearly 17, our relationship with them is changing. We talk about encouraging them to leave the nest and be independent but we don’t really want them to.'

He went on to reveal that the couple fear for their children, remembering the terror of drink spiking when Phoebe was old enough to go clubbing.

'You have to learn to enter their world and that world has pitfalls that just didn’t exist for us.'

Vernon then shared Tess's core lesson which he said had always remained the same for their children: 'You’ve got to go out and graft.'

He told The Times: 'That’s something we’ve tried to instil in our girls. They’re still working out what they want to do but we’ve told them: "Your mum and I aren’t going to give you everything".'

Phoebe moved to New York last year to study acting and film production and is also pursuing a modelling career.

She made her red carpet debut much later than other nepo babies – waiting until 2023 when she attended the movie premiere of John Wick: Chapter 4 in London's Leicester Square.