Car crash TV: Celebrity motoring show Drive is 'cancelled by ITV after host Vernon Kay's sexting scandal turns viewers away'
He was recently embroiled in another sexting scandal as he was accused of messaging Rhian Sugden for a second time behind his wife Tess Daly's back.
And it seems the controversy surrounding Vernon Kay may have had a negative effect on his new ITV motoring show, Drive, which has reportedly been axed after failing to draw in viewers.
The Sun claims that the celebrity contest, which premiered last month, will not be returning for a second season following the finale on Tuesday.
Scroll down for video
Cutting the brakes: The controversy surrounding Vernon Kay may have had a negative effect on his new ITV motoring show, Drive, which has reportedly been axed after failing to draw in viewers
A source told the paper : 'Viewing figures have been appalling and Vernon hasn't done any favours for the show following his sex text shame. Unsurprisingly, ITV aren't bringing it back for a second run.'
Share this article
Viewers had a mixed reaction to the show's finale on Tuesday, with one viewer posting:
'I think I'd have watched #Drive if @VernonKay wasn't on it.'
Another added: '#Drive could've been good but then they had to ruin it by hiring Vernon Kay to host.'
But it wasn't all bad for the star, with one fan enthusing: 'Really hoping @ITV will give #Drive a second season! It was amazing and really great to watch and let @VernonKay host it again.'
An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Any suggestion that Drive won't be returning for a second series is pure speculation and we will make a decision in due course.'
Car crash TV: The celebrity contest, which premiered last month and saw celebrities such as Mariella Frostrup test out their driving abilities will allegedly not be returning for a second season following the finale
Chauffeur: Each week a the celebrity contestants - which included Peter Kay - battle it out to rack up the quickest times, with a celebrity being eliminated every week
The light-hearted reality show, which some had dubbed an extended version of the 'star in a reasonably priced car' segment as seen on BBC1's Top Gear, drew in an average of 1.97 million viewers on it's first show, and figures dropped further to an average 1.5 million throughout the series.
The show format saw former band manager and TV personality Louis Walsh, rapper Professor Green; singer Ella Eyre; actor and comedian Johnny Vegas; Olympic athlete Colin Jackson; TV presenter Mariella Frostrup; weather expert Laura Tobin and broadcaster Angus Deayton compete in a series of challenges that tested their varying driving abilities.
Each week the celebrity contestants battled it out to rack up the quickest times, with Professor Green eventually winning the competition.
Disappointing: The viewers had mixed reactions to Vernon's hosting skills
Lost viewer: One user claimed they hadn't watched the show because of the host
Fan: One viewer enjoyed Vernon's hosting and pleaded with the ITV to recommission the show
Vernon hit the headlines in March after it was revealed he was still in contact with glamour model Rhian, who he sent a string of lewd texts to in 2010.
He was forced to make a public apology to his wife on Radio 1 and promised he would no longer contact her or four other women he had been caught messaging at the time.
But the busty blonde, 29, recently revealed she was still speaking with the star, and claimed he had asked her to meet up.
Sexting scandal: Vernon was recently embroiled in another sexting scandal as he was accused of messaging Rhian Sugden for a second time behind his wife Tess Daly's back
Vernon claimed at the time of the allegations that the Whatsapp messages he sent to Rhian asking to meet had been taken out of context, that he had done 'nothing wrong' and that his wife was completely aware of all contact.
Speaking about their relationship, Rhian claimed the pair had got back in touch in December, after a break of six years, which felt like an 'old friendship coming back'.
She said the messages were not like the explicit texts they had exchanged in 2010, until it emerged that Vernon had 'stalked' her Instagram and labelled one of her photographs a '10/10'.
Scandal: Busty blonde, Rhian, 29, recently revealed she was still speaking with the star, and claimed he had asked her to meet up after he had publicly apologised for contacting her back in 2010
Most watched News videos
- Scottish woman has temper tantrum at Nashville airport
- Tesla Cybertruck explodes in front of Trump hotel in Las Vegas
- Mass panic as New Orleans attacker flies down Bourbon street
- Shocking moment zookeeper is fatally mauled by lions in private zoo
- Horrific video shows aftermath of New Orleans truck 'attack'
- Meghan Markle celebrates new year in first Instagram video
- Tesla Cybertruck burns outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas
- See how truck that drove into crowd made it through police barrier
- Cheerful Melania Trump bops to YMCA at Mar-a-Lago NYE bash
- New Orleans terror attack suspect reveals background in video
- Plane passenger throws drink at flight attendant in boozy fight
- Horrifying moment yacht crashes into rocks and sinks off Mexico coast
