FROM GLITTER BALL TO SLEAZE BALL
Tess upset as Vernon dragged into ‘groping gala’ row
TESS Daly was “upset” that husband Vernon Kay was dragged into the Presidents Club scandal.
He was among a raft of famous faces caught up in the sleaze ball saga.
Vernon was wrongly named by one newspaper as attending the now notorious event but was only on the invite list.
Pals say Tess was stressed that Vernon, who did not attend, is again in the spotlight for a sleazy story.
In 2016 it was claimed Vernon had been sexting glamour model Rhian Sugden.
And last night a source close to the Family Fortunes presenter said: “Vernon has been to the Presidents Club dinner in the past but it was always a light-hearted event with top stand-up comedians.
“He has been a patron of Great Ormond Street Hospital for years and regularly donates, so he gets an automatic invite. He did not RSVP for this year and did not go.”
In fact he was laid up with the flu.
Cesspit
A pal of Tess said: “She really is unimpressed by this newspaper’s mess-up.”
One high-rolling businessman who had attended the events added: “It’s a cesspit. It’s just an upper-class whorehouse.”
Claims emerged on Wednesday that mega-rich punters at the Presidents Club’s annual charity nights would leer at young waitresses.
Young women were ordered to wear skimpy dresses and tell men they had been “a naughty boy” when they misbehaved.
And in a clip that emerged online yesterday, the modelling agency that hired out the hostesses – Artista – dressed girls in skintight outfits before making them dance on revolving globes to pour champagne.
Prime Minister Theresa May has said she was appalled by the allegations and pledged to do more to ensure women are “genuinely” respected. Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi was a guest at the night but left early.
Businessman David Meller has quit his roles at the Department for Education and the Mayor’s Fund for London over his involvement in organising the event.
Meanwhile, Loose Women panellist Nadia Sawalha revealed how she walked out of a well-paid waitressing job when she was asked to remove her bra. She added: “I immediately felt dirty, embarrassed and stupid.”
Pop star Boy George led calls for charities not to return the club’s donations.
Great Ormond Street Hospital is to hand back £530,000. Boy George said: “So the kids suffer for adults bad behaviour? Does this make sense to anyone?”
Last night a spokeswoman for Vernon Kay did not wish to comment.