Vernon on his text sex: 'I've been an idiot'

Vernon on his text sex: 'I've been an idiot'
Vernon on his text sex: 'I've been an idiot' (Image credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima)

Vernon Kay branded himself 'stupid' after admitting sending explicit texts to around five women. The TV presenter said he had 'let down' his wife, Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly, and their two young daughters. The All Star Family Fortunes host told The Sun: "Tess is extremely upset about this and we're working through it." Vernon, who also presents a Saturday show on BBC Radio 1, added: "I've been an idiot and I've let my family down." Vernon said the text exchanges with friends or work colleagues would start off 'pretty innocent', but developed into something more explicit. The Beat The Star presenter denied having sex with anyone he had texted, but admitted he had flirted while using the computer phone service Skype, which allows users to see each other. The 35-year-old told the newspaper he treated the messages as 'harmless banter', but now realised his behaviour was not appropriate for a married man. He pledged to halt his text habit and to do 'whatever it takes to resolve the situation' with his wife. He added: "I've got the most beautiful family and I'm embarrassed I've put them through this." The former model was given his first presenting role with Channel 4 youth segment T4 in 2000. The Bolton-born presenter married Tess, also a former model, in 2003 and their daughter Phoebe was born the following year. Their second daughter, Amber, was born in May last year. The couple worked together in 2007 on the BBC show Just The Two Of Us which saw celebrities performing duets with professional singers.

Patrick McLennan

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.