Vinnie Jones says new girlfriend promised late wife Tanya that she would 'look after him' for her

Former footballer and actor Vinnie Jones has said that girlfriend Emma Ford had 'promised his late wife' that she would 'look after him'

Vinnie Jones has said that his new his new girlfriend Emma Ford has "promised his late wife Tanya she would look after him."

The 59-year-old former footballer, who has made a career in Hollywood movies since retiring from the sport, has found love with script consultant and actress Emma after they fell in love while filming his TV series, Vinnie Jones in The Country. They met after Emma was employed to be Vinnie's PA in 2022 and he has revealed that she made a promise to him after their romance blossomed.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Vinnie said that Emma pledged to "look after him" in honour of his wife Tanya, who tragically passed away from cancer in 2019, aged 53. Vinnie had married Tanya in 1994 but she was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2013 which then spread to her brain.

Vinnie said about Emma: "She said to me that she had had a chat with Tanz and said, 'I'm going to look after him for you'. That was kind of a defining moment for me." The hard-man actor added: "I'm at peace because does she want you to be on your own? No, because you're not going to be happy."

Vinnie credited Tanya with "saving him" and said about his late wife previously: "I take my strength from Tanya. She has given me stability and it is my responsibility to be there for her. She's the most incredible person. We're the perfect match and I was lucky to find her." The first met when they were 12, watching a cricket match in their hometown of Watford and Tanya said of Vinnie: "Even when he was a tearaway lad, I knew he had a good heart."

Vinnie has spoken about whether there would be wedding bells with Emma as their relationship develops. Ahead of his appearance in a musical stage version of Only Fools and Horses in which he appears, Vinnie was asked about the possibility that he and Emma would get married.

In response, he told the Daily Mail: “I’d never say never again! I ain’t got a crystal ball. If the game’s going well and you’re winning one-nil, don’t make any substitutions. Keep it as it is, keep it cool.”

Following the passing of Tanya, Vinnie famously told journalist Piers Morgan that he wouldn’t marry again.

Reflecting on those comments and how he has fallen in love again, Vinnie said: “I never thought this would happen in a million years. You think and say a lot of things when the tragedy first happens. I don’t I think I said I would never have a girlfriend again, but I didn’t think I would at the time. As time goes on you move centimetres forward. Different things come to life again in your body and your soul and your heart.”

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