Former Page 3 girl Rhian Sugden was embroiled in a sexting scandal with TV and radio star Vernon Kay, when the presenter betrayed Tess Daly to send the model a series of steamy texts
11:47, 09 May 2026Updated 11:47, 09 May 2026
Rhian Sugden cried ‘he got away with it’ after Vernon Kay romance ruined her career
Vernon Kay and Tess Daly’s shock split news has left fans of the couple reeling as it was announced they are divorcing after 23 years of marriage.
The pair shared the news amicably in a joint statement, with sources saying they had simply grown apart. The once super close couple had weathered storms in their marriage previously.
Their biggest test came when it was revealed that Vernon had been messaging Page 3 girl Rhian Sugden. After the scandal blew up, Rhian was left in tears as she said the presenter ‘got away with it’ after Tess forgave him, while her showbiz career was left in tatters.
When his betrayal with Rhian, 39, came to light 16 years ago, Vernon publicly apologised to wife Tess, with whom he shares his two daughters – Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16.
Vernon and Tess got married in 2003(Image: Getty Images for EJAF)
Former Page 3 model Rhian went on to join OnlyFans(Image: Instagram/rhiansuggers)
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Speaking in June 2020, a decade after the incident, Rhian admitted she was left ‘feeling sick’ over his swift recovery from the fallout. She felt that Vernon, who “ironically” went on to work on the show Family Fortunes after his apology, was able to simply “carry on”.
Mum-of-one Rhian sobbed as she told the Sun in 2020: “He just got away with it. It ruined everything for me. I felt like I was going up and up with my career and then that came along. I wish I’d never met him.”
Speaking on his Radio 1 show, he publicly apologised to his wife and mum of his children Tess, saying he’d been “foolish and stupid”. Vernon added: “Tess is extremely upset about this and we’re working through it.”
Vernon and Tess married in Bolton in 2003(Image: Daily Mirror)
The pair met through their presenting careers(Image: WireImage)
Since her and dealings with Vernon, Rhian went on to marry former Coronation Street actor Oliver Mellor. After a £150,000 IVF battle and five years of trying, the pair finally welcomed their ‘miracle baby’ George in April 2024.
Meanwhile, Vernon and Tess had tied the knot in September 2003 following a Christmas Day proposal. They chose a church near Vernon’s hometown of Bolton to seal the deal, surrounded by their friends and family. But seven years later, their marriage was put to the test when Vernon’s explicit text exchange with Rhian was leaked.
Vernon supported Tess through her 21 years on Strictly(Image: Getty)
They put the drama behind them and fans had thought they had one of the most solid marriages in showbiz until Friday night’s bombshell news.
They shared their separation on Instagram on Friday, telling fans: “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 for what is best for both of us.
“We remain great friends and more 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 as we navigate this transition together. We will not be making any further public comments. Tess and Vernon.”
Former Strictly Come Dancing host Tess has been making the most of her new-found free time after leaving the BBC dance show last year, revealing she wants to take a “grown up gap year”. She and Vernon blindsided their pals when they announced their split, just two weeks after posting photos of themselves taking a family holiday to the Caribbean together.
A source close to the couple told The Mirror: “Vernon and Tess have been talking about it for a while, but no one has moved out yet. It is all very amicable.
“They are both in a really good place about the decision, and given they are splitting up, it is remarkably friendly at the moment. The truth is they’ve just grown apart.”
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