Shamed former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys, 68, ‘to move back to the UK and live full-time with 37-year-old friend of his daughter’ for first time since they married, after losing TV job in Qatar

Disgraced former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys is reportedly planning to return to the UK when he leaves his TV job at beIN Sports this summer.

Keys, who has lived in Qatar for 13 years while working as a presenter for the sports channel, has been told by the network that his contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the football season.

Andy Gray, Keys’ long-term broadcasting partner and close friend, will also leave beIN Sports this summer and is reportedly planning to return to the UK too.

According to The Telegraph, Keys, 68, is set to move in permanently with his 37-year-old wife, Lucie Rose, whom he has been in a long-distance relationship with since secretly marrying in a private £20,000 ceremony in Devon in June 2023. 

His son Joshua and daughter Jemma, who was previously one of Lucie Rose’s closest friends before her romantic involvement with Keys, did not attend the wedding. 

The presenter split with Julia Keys after 36 years of marriage when news of his shock relationship emerged in 2016, with his ex-wife revealing how the affair ‘devastated’ her as she recovered from thyroid cancer and also wrecked the lives of their two children.

It will see him move in permanently with his 37-year-old wife, Lucie Rose, whom he has been in a long-distance relationship with since secretly marrying in a £20,000 ceremony in June 2023

Andy Gray, Keys’ long-term broadcasting partner and close friend, will also leave beIN Sports

Julia said the affair ruined the career of her Hollyoaks actress daughter as she spiralled into alcoholism and depression. Jemma also faced legal action over a string of abusive texts she sent to Lucie Rose before charges were dropped by prosecutors.

Keys and Gray, 70, have resided in Doha since 2013, two years after they both lost their jobs at Sky Sports in the wake of a sexism scandal. 

A series of sexist remarks made by Keys and Gray about female assistant referee Sian Massey were picked up and leaked in January 2011 when they thought their microphones were off. 

Gray was sacked by Sky Sports after a video showing him making inappropriate comments to presenter Charlotte Jackson was released. Keys resigned from his £500-000-a-year role shortly afterwards.

The shamed ex-Sky Sports host later threatened legal action against Match of the Day presenter Gabby Logan after her 2022 memoir The First Half accused the duo of making sexist remarks about her pregnancy on board a flight to the 2005 Champions League final.

After he and Gray were labelled ‘dinosaurs waiting to become extinct’, Keys responded: ‘I did more for her, in the early part of her career, than anybody. 

‘Andy and I were easy targets. It’s easy to have a go at us. I don’t intend to see her in court, but I think there are things that can be settled away from that.’

Gray added: ‘I was really disappointed. My life’s about today and tomorrow, not 10 years ago. Or in that alleged case, 17 years ago. I want to move on with my life.’ 

Lucie Rose, above, was previously one of Keys’ daughter’s best friends before their romance

Keys (centre) pictured with his ex-wife Julia (left) and their daughter Jemma (right) 

Gabby Logan’s 2022 memoir The First Half also accused Keys and Gray of making sexist remarks about her pregnancy on board a flight to the 2005 Champions League final

Since joining beIN Sports, Keys and Gray have fronted coverage of the Premier League and Champions League across 24 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, while also presenting for the network at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

It is also claimed that the broadcasting pair could quit live football presenting altogether when they return to the UK.