Rhian Sugden reveals she still can’t forgive Vernon Kay over sexting scandal

The model involved in a ‘sexting’ scandal with I’m A Celebrity star Vernon Kay has accused him of ‘ruining’ her.

Rhian Sugden, 34, who exchanged explicit text messages with the married presenter over a four-month period, claims that he ‘got away with it’ while her career was wrecked.

Mr Kay devastated his wife Tess Daly, the co-presenter of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, when details of his links with Ms Sugden, a former Page 3 girl, emerged a decade ago. The model and the former All Star Family Fortunes host had met in a nightclub two years earlier.

Vernon Kay, pictured, devastated his wife Tess Daly, the co-presenter of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, when details of his links with Ms Sugden, a former Page 3 girl, emerged a decade ago

In an interview about the scandal, which aired shortly before Mr Kay, 46, began his stint on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! inside a castle in North Wales, Ms Sugden said: ‘It was awful.

‘My whole family… must have been so embarrassed. And he just got away with it

‘It ruined everything for me. I feel like I was going up and up and up with my career and then when that came along I wish I’d never met him … And he just got to give an apology to his wife on the radio and that was it for him.

‘That was like 12 years ago I think, and it still makes me feel physically sick.’

In the interview for a Channel 4 documentary called Page Three: The Naked Truth, she added: ‘There was an attraction there for both of us and I was a Page 3 girl and he was Vernon Kay, he’s a good-looking fella.

He came to Manchester and that was the first night we met and then things just stemmed from there. It was a lot of bravado on text, from him, probably when he’d had a drink.’

Rhian Sugden, 34, who exchanged explicit text messages with the married presenter over a four-month period, claims that he ‘got away with it’ while her career was wrecked

Mr Kay and Ms Daly’s marriage survived after he apologised on his Radio 1 show. ‘I’ve let down my wife Tess. I’m an idiot. I’ve been stupid and daft but I’m not a sex pest,’ he told listeners.

Mr Kay is working hard to rebuild his image. On Thursday, 11million viewers of I’m A Celebrity heard him tell fellow contestants that he had chosen to bring a cashmere blanket that he snuggles under with his wife and their two daughters when they watch TV. 

The day before, Ms Daly posted a photograph on Instagram of the couple cuddling on a sunbed during a holiday to Ibiza.

Mr Kay and Ms Daly’s marriage survived after he apologised on his Radio 1 show. ‘I’ve let down my wife Tess. I’m an idiot. I’ve been stupid and daft but I’m not a sex pest,’ he told listeners

Sources say that Mr Kay is hoping to rejuvenate his career after All Star Family Fortunes was axed five years ago. The revamped quiz show returned this year with popular chef Gino D’Acampo.

Mr Kay’s last major presenting role came with Drive, a motoring show for ITV in 2016. He has also presented Channel 5’s coverage of Formula E motor racing since 2017.

Meanwhile, The Mail on Sunday has learned that fellow I’m A Celebrity contestant Victoria Derbyshire, the BBC presenter, may be lured to ITV. The broadcaster is believed to have impressed bosses at the channel for some time. It is understood that they targeted her to take part on the show, hosted by Ant and Dec, so that her profile would be raised.

An ITV insider said: ‘Victoria might have a long history at the BBC but she translates to our audience too.’ Ms Derbyshire was devastated when the BBC axed her morning show in March after five years on air.