'Tess is aware of everything' Vernon Kay says wife knew about saucy messages with model

TV STAR Vernon Kay says wife Tess Daly knew about him texting a Page 3 model.

IN THE LOOP: Vernon Kay says wife Tess Daly knew about him texting model Rhian Sugden

The Family Fortunes presenter was rocked yesterday by allegations he had been sending flirty messages to Rhian Sugden. It was claimed he had even arranged a secret hotel meeting with her.

Curvy Rhian is the girl he was caught sexting back in 2010 when the scandal almost ended his marriage.

But last night dad-of-two Vernon, 41, said Rhian contacted him last Christmas and revealed she had information about how the original scandal over their saucy text exchanges was leaked.

FAMILY MISFORTUNES: Dad-of-two Vernon said non of his messages were saucy

He says he texted her back as he wanted answers but none of his messages were saucy.

Vernon said: “I recognise how it may look when messages are pulled out of context but there was never any inappropriate intent to our communication, I was merely trying to find answers to questions that I’ve had since 2010.

“Tess is aware of everything that has been discussed with Rhian.”

Last night 32E Rhian, 29, was keeping tight-lipped about Vernon’s version of events. It had been reported that he was the one who contacted her back at Christmas saying he wanted to “reconnect’’.

SEXY: The scandal with Rhian Sugden almost ruined his marriage

At the time she posted a cryptic tweet: “What screws us up the most in life is the picture in our head of how it is supposed to be.”

Over the past three months, it was claimed Vernon sent her “hundreds of texts’’, signed off some of them with a kiss and repeatedly asked to meet up with her in a hotel.

In a rather unfortunate twist of timing, an interview which Vernon had given to a magazine to plug his new ITV show Drive was published yesterday.

PERSISTENT: Vernon sent 'hundreds of texts' to Sugden, but his marriage did not end

He told Woman that he loves to stay fit “to keep up with the 20- year-olds”.

The star added: “I’m 41, but I feel like I’m 19 still. I love going clubbing.”

A pal said: “Tess won’t be happy that this scandal is back in the spotlight. It put a big strain on them last time.”