Former page 3 model Rhian Sugden is preparing to release a tell-all book that will delve into her past sexting relationship with Vernon Kay, the husband of television presenter Tess Daly. The book comes 16 years after the scandal, which involved a series of explicit messages exchanged between Sugden and Kay, first surfaced.
An image from 2010 has emerged showing Kay, then 52, with Sugden at a pub in Bolton. Also present in the photograph were radio host Chris Moyles and comedian Peter Kay. At the time the photo was taken, Kay had been texting Sugden daily for four months after meeting her at a club in Bolton. The subsequent newspaper revelation of these messages led Kay to issue a public apology to his wife on his BBC Radio 1 show.
Kay has consistently maintained that the messages were lighthearted banter and that no inappropriate physical contact occurred. However, sources close to the situation suggest Sugden's forthcoming book will offer a more detailed account of their relationship.
An insider indicated that Sugden has been offered a book deal to reveal the full story of her involvement with Kay. "She's never spoken out publicly about everything that happened with Vernon and she's kept a lot of secrets over the years to protect his reputation while it inadvertently destroyed hers," the source stated. The insider added that Sugden has expressed frustration at being repeatedly drawn back into headlines, particularly following Kay's separation from Daly.
Interest in Sugden from publishers reportedly intensified after Daly and Kay announced their divorce in May. Sugden, now 39, is married to actor Oliver Mellor and they have a two-year-old son, George. She has previously claimed that the scandal damaged her career and that Kay "got away with it" after his public apology. Sugden has stated that she felt ill watching Kay resume his broadcasting duties and expressed regret over meeting him.
Kay had reportedly vowed to cease contact with Sugden, though he was found to have messaged her again in 2016. A source who knew Kay in 2010 commented that Kay had introduced Sugden to his family and friends at his local pub, suggesting the relationship was not a secret to those close to him. "There's so much more to this story than has ever been told," the source added.