Richard’s cheating has left our girl a drink from death
TV host’s wife hits out – but HE calls it character assassination
THE alcoholic daughter of TV presenter Richard Keys ‘could be one more drink away from death’ – and his cheating is to blame for her ordeal, her mother has claimed.
But as Julia Keys spoke out about troubled daughter Jemma her estranged husband hit back, claiming he was the victim of ‘outrageous character assassination’.
Mrs Keys, 58 said Jemma’s drinking had led to her being on a life support machine three times. The latest incident was two months ago and she now fears for the 34-year-old’s life. She said: ‘Many, many times I have laid in bed planning Jemma’s funeral. I have it word by word because she has come that close.’
She was married to the former Sky Sports presenter for 36 years when she discovered he was having an affair with Jemma’s lawyer friend Lucie Rose. It caused a devastating family split.
Mrs Keys said: ‘It’s been difficult for us all but mostly for Jemma. She adores her father.
‘In terms of it as an emotional trigger, it has made it much harder for her to remain sober. Jemma is massively angry and hurt about what happened between her dad and her old friend.
‘She suffers hugely with alcoholism. I always worry she could be one more drink away from death.’
To add to the family problems the mother-of-two, who is said to be speaking with Jemma’s consent, has discovered that her thyroid cancer has returned.
Mrs Keys and her actress daughter live in the UK while her husband is based in Qatar, where he fronts football coverage on a £420,000 salary. Their divorce is expected to go through next year.
Mrs Keys said Jemma started drinking at 17 and got worse after landing a role on television soap Hollyoaks.
It has led to her being in court accused of punching a paramedic, being banned for drink driving and cautioned for being drunk and disorderly. Mrs Keys told the Sun on Sunday: ‘Jemma might drink three bottles of white wine a day then vodka.
Jemma spoke about her battle in July and promised to try to stay sober. ‘I’ve got every excuse under the sun to drink at the moment. But every day I don’t is an enormous achievement,’ she said.
Yesterday Keys, 61 claimed he had been the victim of ‘outrageous character assassination.’ He said: ‘Sadly my daughter’s problems have haunted our family for 15 years or more. We’ve spent in excess of £250,000 on rehab.
‘Jemma’s issues are at the core of my marriage break-up. My wife and I disagree on her treatment.
‘ Quite simply – I refuse to “enable” her with her problems any further.’
He added that Lucie Rose was not Jemma’s friend as they had met only twice.