Richard Keys has denied leaving his wife during her cancer treatment for his daughter’s friend, who is three decades his junior.
The former broadcaster, 66, married Lucie Rose, 35, who was thought to be a friend of his daughter Jemma.
The couple was sighted in Kingswear, Devon, on Saturday, in what seemed to be a private outdoor ceremony, with the bride wearing a gorgeous, flowery, white wedding gown with a long veil and taking her vows next to Keys, who was dressed in a light grey suit.
Neither Jemma nor Keys’ ex-wife Julia nor their son Josh were presenters, and it was later discovered that Julia was only alerted of the wedding two hours before the ceremony.
As news of his second marriage circulated, it was claimed that Keys abandoned his wife during her cancer treatment and had an affair with Lucie, something he has always denied.
And he has now refuted the rumours once more.
Writing in his blog, he said: ‘When my first marriage collapsed my wife was not suffering with cancer.
‘She’d been seven years in remission after a dreadful scare – one she managed with dignity and bravery.
‘And I was with her every step of the way. She is still very much alive and well, although it is true that cancer sufferers always need to be careful about their health.’
He also stated that the dissolution of his first marriage did not ‘destroy’ the lives of his children, who were 28 and 32 at the time.
Keys added: ‘Lucie was never my daughters’ friend – let alone her best friend. They met twice.
‘The circumstances don’t matter – at this stage. That’s something else I’ll address going forward.’
He also stated that the dissolution of his first marriage did not ‘destroy’ the lives of his children, who were 28 and 32 at the time.
‘It is only now, two years on, that he has admitted he did have an affair with Lucie, as well as acknowledging his deceit and the damage it has caused.’
That same year, Jemma revealed that her mother discovered WhatsApp messages from Lucie on Keys’ phone while they were on vacation.
She then bombarded Lucie with abusive messages referring to her as ‘the filthiest s**t’, and one which warned: ‘I’m watching every move you make. You don’t know what’s coming.’
Jemma subsequently stated that she sent the texts while in a ‘alcoholic blackout,’ and she was charged with harassment, but the matter was withdrawn.
Keys addressed the situation in his blog, saying: ‘It was Lucie that decided not to pursue Jemma’s disgusting and threatening text messages.
‘She dropped the charges because the case was hurting me and would only have caused Jemma more harm.
‘It was not the CPS that decided to drop it.’
Keys also addressed his resignation from in 2008, saying: ‘Mistakes were made at the time and I’ve addressed them previously.’
