Vernon Kay and Tess Daly attend the Prince's Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success awards at Odeon Leicester Square
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Rhian Sugden writes open letter to Tess Daly over Vernon Kay scandal

She said she shouldn't have "got involved with a married man"

Rhian Sugden has issued an apology to Tess Daly for exchanging naughty messages with her husband Vernon Kay.

TV presenter Vernon, 44, was caught sending ‘flirty’ messages to the glamour model in 2010.

The scandal blew up again in 2016, as it emerged that Vernon had been back in touch with Rhian, even apparently trying to meet up with her.

FameFlynet
Rhian issued an apology to Vernon’s wife Tess (Credit: FameFlynet)

Read more: Tess Daly admits marriage to Vernon Kay is “work in progress” following sexting scandal

Now Rhian, 31, has said she’s taken “full responsibility for allowing such behaviour” and wished she never got involved with the presenter.

In an open letter to Tess in The Sun, Rhian wrote: “I deeply regret creating a friendship with Vernon and allowing him to continue speaking to me the way he did.

“I should never have got involved with a married man.”

Rhian insisted that her relationship with Vernon was “nothing more than a close friendship and flirty messages” and the pair “never met up alone”.

She continued: “The exchange of messages was inappropriate and I should not have encouraged such behaviour. I know it takes two to tango but I could have stopped contact.

“It should never have got to the stage it did. It was disrespectful, hurtful and I can only apologise for my actions.”

She concluded the letter by giving her “sincerest apologies” to Tess, adding: “I wish you both all the happiness in the future.”

After the messages emerged in 2016, Family Fortunes host Vernon released a statement to Facebook saying: “I recognise how it may look when messages are pulled out of context but there was never any inappropriate intent to our communication.

Tess Daly and Vernon Kay at The National TV Awards (NTA's) held at the O2
Tess forgave Vernon for exchanging messages with Rhian (Credit: Wenn)

“I was merely trying to find answers to questions I’ve had since 2010.”

During her stint on Celebrity Big Brother last year, Rhian – who is now preparing to marry actor Oliver Mellor – discussed the situation between herself and Vernon.

She said: “He got drunk and sent inappropriate text messages to me.

“And I’m the one people would pour drinks on. I’m the one people would spit on.

Rhian is preparing to marry actor Oliver (Credit: Instagram)

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“My career didn’t go anywhere but his went up. I even lost contracts. I was just known as a sex-texter

Meanwhile last year, Tess said her relationship with Vernon was a “work in progress”.

She told The Times: “Marriage is a work in progress. Vernon and I are just people, at the end of the day. All marriages have their moments.”

What do you think of Rhian’s letter to Tess? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think.


Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)

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