Richard Keys appears to be enjoying life away from football broadcasting after sharing photographs of himself and his younger wife relaxing on the Isle of Wight during the World Cup.
The former Sky Sports presenter, 69, announced in May that he would be leaving his role with beIN Sports in Qatar at the end of last season to return to the UK, calling an end to his 34-year career covering the Premier League.
Keys, who led World Cup coverage for the Qatari network in 2022, lived in the Middle Eastern country for 13 years alongside his long-term broadcasting partner and close friend Andy Gray, making a fresh start after the pair lost their jobs at Sky Sports in 2011 over sexist and derogatory remarks they made about a female assistant referee.
It is believed the former Sky Sports anchor returned to the UK to move in permanently with his wife, Lucie Rose, 37, with whom he has been in a long-distance relationship since they secretly married in a private £20,000 ceremony in Devon in June 2023.
And the happy couple appear to be making the most of Keys’ time away from the TV screens during the World Cup after sharing photographs of them relaxing on the Isle of Wight.
Keys took to social media to share pictures of the summer break and wish England luck ahead of their superb round of 16 victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on Monday morning.
Richard Keys shared a rare photo of himself and his wife as he relaxed in the Isle of Wight sun
Keys, pictured with long-time broadcasting partner Andy Gray, fronted beIN Sport’s World Cup coverage in 2022 but is enjoying a summer away from the tournament after returning to the UK
Dining at The Hut, Colwell Bay ahead of England’s crucial game, he posted: ‘Pre-match in the Isle of Wight.. good luck guys.’
In the first photograph on Instagram, sun-kissed Keys cut a relaxed figure alongside his smiling wife while holding a glass of white wine, before sharing pictures of the meal they enjoyed by the sea.
Despite covering football at the highest level for over three decades, Keys appeared content with not covering the World Cup this summer, admitting to his former beIN Sports colleagues he is no longer needed.
On the eve of the first match of the World Cup last month, he wrote on X: ‘To everyone @beINSPORTS_EN. Have a wonderful WC guys.
‘You don’t need me anymore. You’ve been the best for a long time now. Make it count. Make it memorable.’
Keys courted controversy after splitting with his ex-wife Julia following 36 years of marriage, when news of his shock relationship with Lucie Rose emerged in 2016. Rose was a friend of his daughter Jemma.
His ex-wife later revealed how the affair ‘devastated’ her as she recovered from thyroid cancer and also wrecked the lives of their two children.
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.
