His marriage to Tess Daly hit a rocky patch when he confessed to sending “flirty” messages to other women, but Vernon Kay insists: “I’m a feminist.”
The TV veteran had to patch things up with Strictly host Tess after he confessed to sexting glamour girl Rhian Sugden and four more beauties.
But Vernon sang the praises of women’s sport when the Sunday People caught up with him at a charity pro-am golf day.
Asked if he is a feminist, he said: “I am, I have to be, I have to be.”
Vernon, 45, revealed how he has been encouraging his daughters Phoebe, 14, and Amber, 10, to play golf.
He said: “I would like it if they wanted to be a professional golfer. If you can achieve it as a professional sportswoman I think it is a bigger achievement than achieving it as a professional sportsman.
“Women’s sport is coming into the limelight with the success of the football team. Cricket did really well, and rugby.”
Vernon’s 15-year marriage was put under strain when it emerged he had been exchanging inappropriate texts and tweets with ex-Page 3 girl and former Big Brother contestant Rhian, 32, in 2016.
It was the second time he had been in contact with her after he admitted sending messages back in 2010 – but Tess, 50, forgave him. The couple were seen looking loved up while watching Wimbledon in July and Vernon said they have a shared love of charity work.
“My wife and I are ambassadors for Great Ormond Street children’s hospital,” he said. “I do a lot for Bolton Wanderers FC’s Community Trust.
“I think it is important to ensure it is not all glitz and glam, that you’ve got to be part of the community and that is why I like things like this.”
The former Family Fortunes host also spoke about how being northern has shaped him. “I go up to Bolton on a regular basis. I love it to bits, consider the whole town as family,” he said.
“I’m proud of my roots because I made a career out of personality and telling stories about how I grew up. If it wasn’t for being brought up in Bolton I’d think that I wouldn’t have been as successful as I have been or the person I am today.
“Everyone’s got a smile even though it’s a proper northern working class town. I think it instils a really good work ethic in you.”
Vernon was speaking at a celebrity golf day in Buckinghamshire to raise money for the charity Children with Cancer UK.
He said: “I am golf crazy. I will play off 11 today. My girls play as well so it’s really good to get out playing and you bond with them as well.”
