Vernon Kay allegedly only told wife Tess Daly he’d secretly been texting model Rhian Sugden just 24 hours before the news broke.
The television presenter was embroiled in a sexting scandal with former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Rhian in 2010 when he admitted he’d been messaging her every day for four months after meeting her in a Bolton nightclub.
This week it emerged radio host Vernon had been in touch with Rhian again in a bid to find “closure” over their past.
Vernon insists partner Tess, who he shares daughters Amber and Phoebe with, was aware of all communication between him and Rhian.
But it has now been claimed he kept it under wraps until a few days ago, despite first messaging Rhian again just before Christmas.
A source told The Sun: “Tess had no idea Vernon was swapping messages with Rhian over many months.
“She would never have allowed that - it’s disgusting to her after that woman came close to destroying their marriage.”
Vernon is apparently fighting to save his 13-year marriage to Tess, with an insider saying: “But he has come clean over the last 24 hours and shared everything with her to try and save their marriage.”
Yesterday the star denied he had done anything wrong in a statement he issued via Facebook.
He wrote: “Regarding today’s story: I was contacted by Rhian out of the blue back in December regarding the story in 2010 claiming she had information she wanted to pass on.
“I recognise how it may look when messages are pulled out of context but there was never 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.”
Vernon pulled out of an appearance on The One Show on Tuesday night as he reportedly held crisis talks with his wife.
He did continue with his show on Radio X that morning when he covered for Chris Moyles from 6.30am and admitted he woke up with a “massive headache” as the story surfaced but put it down to feeling unwell over the Easter weekend.
Vernon made plans with Rhian, who is engaged to former Coronation Street actor Oliver Mellor, in January but they fell through because of work commitments.
Before Vernon spoke out, a source told The Sun: “He knows he’s been playing with fire and God knows what poor Tess will make of this.”
They added: “Vernon told Rhian he wanted to reconnect with her and gave her a false name in his mobile.
“Sometimes he texted her while he was actually presenting his radio show and it wasn’t long before they were speaking to each other over the phone.”
Vernon admitted he was filled with regret after the original sexting scandal involving him and Rhian in 2010.
At the time, he said: “I’ve been an idiot and I’ve let my family down.”