Vernon Kay scandal cost him big sponsorship deal

Vernon Kay scandal cost him big sponsorship deal (Image credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima)

Veron Kay's sex-text scandal has reportedly cost him a six-figure advertising job with Alfa Romeo. The Sun reports that the luxury car maker had been in talks with the All Star Family Fortunes host to act as ambassador for the cars in the UK. But Alfa Romeo has ditched the relationship in the light of the scandal. A spokesman for Alfa Romeo said on Sunday night: "We had been in discussions with a view to recruiting Vernon in an ambassadorial role for the brand. But in the light of what has happened, we have dropped that idea." Vernon, 35 - wed to Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly - admitted sending a string of steamy texts to five women, including Page 3 girl Rhian Sugden. Alfa Romeo is now believed to be luring Italian TV chef Gino D'Acampo, 33, who won I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.