Rhian Sugden was seen for the first time since Vernon Kay and Tess Daly announced their split, as she ran errands in Manchester yesterday.
The news of the couple’s shock separation came 16 years after Vernon’s ‘sexting scandal’ with former glamour model Rhian, 39.
Cutting a casual figure, she wore an oversized white T-shirt and bright red joggers with her long brunette locks tied back.
Rhian – now married to Oliver Mellor, with whom she has a two-year-old son named George – appeared to go make-up free.
Vernon, 52, and Tess, 57, revealed their shock separation on Friday, admitting they had agonised over the decision but were determined to remain supportive parents to their daughters, Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16.
In 2010, Vernon was forced to make a public apology to Tess on BBC Radio 1 after a set of ‘saucy messages’ sent to Rhian came to light.
Rhian Sugden was seen for the first time since Vernon Kay and Tess Daly announced their split, as she ran errands in Manchester yesterday
The couple’s shock separation came 16 years after Vernon’s ‘sexting scandal’ with Rhian, 39 (Rhian pictured 2010)
The pair admitted the decision had been hard but were determined to be supportive parents
In 2020, Rhian claimed her ‘sexting scandal’ with Vernon ruined her career as she lamented the fact that he ‘got away with it’ after apologising.
She said it still ‘made her feel sick’ that he returned to his presenting duties afterwards and that she wishes she had never met him.
Vernon promised live on air that he would no longer contact Rhian or the four other women he had been caught messaging at the time.
He continued to host his radio show and present All Star Family Fortunes following the scandal.
She later spoke out about the scandal in a Channel 4 documentary, Page Three: The Naked Truth, in which she said: ‘He just got away with it. It ruined everything for me.
‘I felt like I was going up and up with my career, and then that came along. I wish I’d never met him.
‘He got to give an apology on the radio and just got to carry on, with Family Fortunes, ironically. It still makes me feel sick.’
Earlier yesterday, Vernon broke his silence on the split on his BBC Radio 2 show and was seen for the first time as he headed to the studio in central London.
Rhian is now married Oliver Mellor, with whom she has a two-year-old son named George
Back in 2010, Vernon was forced to make a public apology to Tess on BBC Radio 1 after a set of ‘saucy messages’ sent to Rhian came to light
Earlier yesterday, Vernon was seen for the first time since the split in central London
Thanking well-wishers for their support, he said: ‘I just want to say on behalf of myself and Tess, thank you, thank you for all your well-wishes it’s been greatly appreciated.’
Over the weekend, it was reported they had posted their Instagram statement while raising glasses of champagne.
The Mirror said the pair are ‘keeping it classy’ with regard to their split.
The couple are also still living in the same property together in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.
A source close to the pair told the publication: ‘After they released the statement, Vernon and Tess took a moment to toast each other and their futures.
‘They only want the best for each other and their family. There has been no big fallout, more a gradual growing apart and wanting different things.
In 2020, glamour model Rhian claimed her ‘sexting scandal’ with Radio 2 DJ ruined her career
She said it still ‘made her feel sick’ that Vernon returned to his presenting duties afterwards
‘They have vowed to stay friends and to keep things classy when it comes to the split and any future interviews they give. They only want the best for each other.’
They started dating after meeting in 2001, with Vernon going on to pop the question the following year on Christmas Day.
Recalling their initial encounter, he told The Telegraph: ‘She didn’t know anyone except me because we’d worked together that day – she spotted me in a crowd and we had a laugh.
‘I was instantly attracted by how independent Tess was, and that’s not changed at all.’
The pair went on to get married in Horwich, near where Vernon grew up in Lancashire, the following September.
It comes after a source told the Daily Mail’s Katie Hind that the couple were living separate lives before their split.
They said: ‘Basically, without meaning to, they’ve been living separate lives. They don’t really do much together any more, they have different interests and hobbies.
‘They had grown apart. They acknowledged that and decided that life would be better if they were to split.’
On Friday, the pair wrote: ‘After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably.
‘This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire of what is best for both of us.
Vernon and Tess posted the joint statement on Instagram while raising glasses of champagne
‘We remain great friends and, most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority.
‘There are no other parties involved in this decision. We kindly ask for privacy during this time.
‘We will not be making any further public comments.’
Tess and Vernon – thought to be worth around £10million – were last seen together in February when they hosted an episode of The One Show. They are also food ambassadors for Marks & Spencer.
Friends were stunned to learn they were parting ways.
One said: ‘When Vernon told me, I was stunned. I didn’t see it coming, nobody did. This is going to take some getting used to.’
But while it may have come as a surprise to outsiders, sources close to Tess and Vernon say they have spent a ‘significant’ amount of time coming to the decision.
Their two daughters were ‘completely involved’ in the conversations.
‘Tess and Vernon are actually really, really happy now,’ says a friend. ‘They’re still living together for now though that will of course change in the near future…
‘The girls were very much part of the decision. They had grown apart, they are different to when they first met…
‘They acknowledged that and decided life would be better if they were to split. They are both in their 50s, they have so much time left and they have decided they would be happier not being together so that’s what they’ve done. It is all very, very amicable.
‘They have lived through so much together, they have had so many happy times.
‘They have had more than two decades of laughs and are extremely proud of their girls but they know splitting is for the best.’
Sources say divorce lawyers are yet to be instructed but that the plan is to do so down the line.