Vernon's family misfortune as he admits 'stupid' texts to women
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By Beverley Rouse in London
Thursday Feb 11 2010
TOP British TV presenter Vernon Kay branded himself "stupid" last night after admitting sending explicit texts to around five women.
Kay said he had "let down" his wife, 'Strictly Come Dancing' presenter Tess Daly, and their two young daughters.
The 'All Star Family Fortunes' host said: "Tess is extremely upset about this and we're working through it."
Kay, who also presents a Saturday show on BBC Radio 1, added: "I've been an idiot and I've let my family down."
He said the text exchanges with friends or work colleagues would start off "pretty innocent" but had 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.
Kay (35) said 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 Daly, also a former model, in 2003.
Their first 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.
Reputation
Until these revelations, the pair were seen as TV's golden couple but that reputation has been tarnished by Kay's confession.
Daly was born in Stockport and Kay came from Horwich, near Bolton, just 20 miles away.
Their birthdays, in April, are just a day apart although Daly (38) is three years older.
Although both were well- known faces when they married, the down-to-earth pair showed success was not turning their heads particularly when they shunned offers of six-figure deals with glossy celebrity magazines for exclusive photographs of their wedding.
The couple, both dressed in white, instead posed for fans' photographs outside St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Horwich.
On that day, Kay declared "I'm over the moon" before they left in an old-fashioned Volkswagen campervan.
- Beverley Rouse in London
Irish Independent
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