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rat it again
Star risks relationship with long-suffering wife once more after he was caught texting model in 2010
- By GUY PATRICK, RICHARD MORIARTY and DAN WOOTTON
VERNON Kay has sent Page 3 model Rhian hundreds of texts over the past three months — and repeatedly talked about secretly meeting up with her at a hotel.
TV host Vernon, whose marriage to Tess Daly nearly ended in 2010 because of sex texts he sent Rhian, got back in touch before Christmas saying he wanted to “reconnect”.
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Friends said Tess, who is 47 today, was likely to be “shattered” by her husband’s latest indiscretions with Rhian Sugden, 29.
A source said: “He knows he’s been playing with fire and God only knows what poor Tess will make of this.
“Vernon broke her heart six years ago and now he’s back in touch with the same girl. He must be mad.”
Kay signed off some of his new messages to Rhian with a kiss. He also suggested dinner dates so he and Rhian could achieve “closure” on their previous texting episode.
But Vernon, who hosts a show on Radio X, was so paranoid he urged Rhian not to show anyone her mobile.
He even jokingly suggested she wear a wig or moustache as a disguise to any meeting.
The source said: “Vernon told Rhian he wanted to reconnect with her and he gave her a false name in his mobile.
“Sometimes he texted her while he was actually presenting his radio show and it wasn’t long before they were speaking to each other over the phone.
“It was just like 2010 all over again. But he knew the stakes were high and said to Rhian, ‘We simply can’t afford to get caught like we did before — it would kill me’.
“He almost came unstuck when he accidentally ‘liked’ one of Rhian’s pictures on Instagram. Within seconds he ‘unliked’ it. His followers could easily have seen that.
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“Vernon admitted he was being an idiot — but then in the next breath he was asking if Rhian was free to have a chat.
“She wasn’t sure quite what his game was but she was prepared to meet him because she feels he left her high and dry six years ago and she wanted some answers from him.
“It takes two to tango but it was Vernon who came up with some specific dates when he could sneak away from Tess to meet Rhian in a hotel.
“Rhian’s not above blame because she is due to get married next year.”
The Sun revealed in 2010 how former All Star Family Fortunes presenter Vernon had exchanged lewd texts with Rhian. He later apologised on Radio 1 to Tess, saying he had made “some stupid decisions”.
He added: “I have disappointed and I have let down a lot of people. I am very sorry.”
The dad of two pledged to never again contact Rhian or four other women he sexted.
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He said: “Tess is extremely upset. Hopefully I can clear the slate and start again.”
Vernon and Tess, who co-hosts Strictly Come Dancing with Claudia Winkleman, were yesterday at their home in Beaconsfield, Bucks.
They refused to comment.
Rhian has told friends she was in two minds over whether to agree to meet Vernon.
The source said: “The daft thing is they never even so much as kissed six years ago.
“It was just flirty, sex chat and a few nights out together.
“But there’s obviously chemistry between them and once they start texting each other, they can’t seem to stop.” Vernon warned Rhian they must keep their exchanges secret to avoid a rerun of past troubles.
The source said: “Vernon said ‘I wouldn’t want to go through all the s*** we went through in 2010. It only takes one person to put two and two together. Neither of us need the grief’.
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“Rhian was as apprehensive as him. They said it would have to be ‘secret squirrel’ when they hooked up and talked about knocking back loads of wine.”
Vernon and Rhian tried to find a convenient time to meet.
The source said: “Vernon regularly asked Rhian when she was going to be in London for modelling and she kept asking him if he was going to be in the Manchester area.
“They agreed to book a hotel room in January but it fell through because of work.
“Then they agreed to meet in London at the beginning of this month. But again the rendezvous failed to materialise because Vernon had family commitments at the last minute.
“The longer this has gone on, the more they have felt guilty. They’ve cooled it a bit recently and decided it wouldn’t be the smartest move to be alone together in a hotel room.
“Rhian said, ‘This might be a bad idea’. Vernon said, ‘Of course it f****** is. The repercussions would be hideous’.”
Rhian, engaged to ex-Corrie star Oliver Mellor, refused to comment yesterday.
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Six-year fight to reclaim honour
ASHAMED Vernon Kay spent the last six years trying to repair his reputation as a loving family man.
Vowing to behave and be a model husband in the aftermath of the first incident, he told The Sun: “I’m an idiot, I’ve let down my wife Tess and my family.
“She is extremely upset about this and we’re working through it.
“I’m never going to do it again and hopefully I can clear the slate clean and start again.”
As years went by, he and Tess gave numerous interviews in which they spoke of the effects of his sexting on their marriage.
In September 2010, Tess admitted she had endured a hard time after Vernon’s messages emerged.
She said: “It has been a difficult year and it shakes the foundations of what you believe in.
“But you learn from it. We were able to move on because we both want a loving family together.”
