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Tess Daly told magazine she 'trusts' husband Vernon Kay just weeks before his sex text exploits

Sherna Noah,Press Association
Thursday 11 February 2010 12:21 GMT
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Tess Daly spoke about how much she trusts her husband just weeks before it emerged that Vernon Kay had been sending explicit texts to other women.

She said she did not get jealous when the All Star Family Fortunes host got attention from other females, because he told her "all girls ever want to talk about" was her.

In the interview with She magazine, Daly, 38, said that they were not TV's golden couple and recalled their arguments in the early hours of the morning.

The Strictly Come Dancing host, who is mother to Kay's two daughters, Phoebe, five, and nine-month-old Amber, said: "It's quite funny, people thinking we have it all - this perfect life. They should see us at 5.30am when Amber is crying and we're arguing over whose turn it is to go to her. We are not showbizzy, there are no airs and graces.

"Being married to a fellow northerner helps - he's got to keep it real or his mum would soon slap him into place."

Asked if she was jealous when her husband got female attention, she said: "No, because they all ask about me and the girls. He says that whenever he's out doing a gig or at the pub with his mates, all girls ever want to talk about is me!

"I also know that he loves our family so much, it's far too precious for him to jeopardise it. I trust him totally."

Asked how the couple keep their relationship on track when they're both so busy with work, Daly suggested that it had been a while since Kay, 35, who has branded himself "stupid" for sending explicit texts to around five women, had taken her out.

She said: "We just make sure that we have time for each other, even if it's simply an hour at the end of the day sitting down with a bottle of wine and chatting, playing on the Xbox or just relaxing.

"You've got to touch base to stay connected. And we try to go out for dinner every few weeks, although we have been busy recently - Vernon, if you're reading this, take the hint! A bit of sushi would be nice!"

Daly said her husband, who has denied having sex with anyone he texted but admitted flirting while using Skype, could be like a "giddy child" and would forget so many people followed him on Twitter.

Asked how she felt when he posted a photograph of her on Twitter just months after giving birth, she said: "I was furious. We were just messing around in the garden having a water fight with Phoebe.

"I'd only given birth 10 weeks before - I didn't expect anyone to see the pictures. Vernon can be like a giddy child sometimes and had all the best intentions, but he sometimes forgets that when he's having a laugh on Twitter with his friends there are thousands of people following him.

"He meant is as a compliment though, he was proud of how I looked, but I would have at least sucked in my tummy if I'd known!"

On the secret of a successful relationship, she said: "Being flexible. If he wants to go to the Super Bowl in America with his brother, then I let him. Then I get brownie points and a favour back in return. Enjoy your time together and prioritise what's important.

"I don't nag him over the small stuff. He'll read this and laugh out loud. Let's say I try to ignore the small stuff, like wet towels on the floor, the dishwasher full to the brim and not turned on. You know what men are like, they'll never rise to our standards of excellence. But when they try, that's enough!"

She added: "We try not to flaunt our family too much. I know it works for some people, but while our children are small I want them to grow up quietly and normally.

"As far as Vern and I go, we have had situations where people have tried to take photographs of me and cut Vernon out or vice versa in an attempt to create a scandal. But we just try and live our lives and ignore it."

:: The full interview, which was carried out just before Christmas, is in the March issue of She Magazine, on sale on Monday.

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