Peter Crouch defends his cheeky morning texts to wife Abbey Clancy after she revealed the secret signal he uses for sex

Peter Crouch is defending his use of cheeky emojis after his wife Abbie Clancy called his messages “vile”.

Appearing on This Thursday Morning to talk about their hit podcast The Therapy Crouch and their new book, Peter was asked about his love of the eggplant emoji.

In an episode of their podcast on Mai Abbey, 37, she shared how her footballer boyfriend (42) would often send her a beaver emoji followed by an eggplant emoji whenever they were alone in the house.

“I just don’t know how much longer I can keep up with these sex emojis you keep sending me,” she said at the time.

“If the kids go to school and he hears me like, put the key in the door I’m in and nobody’s home, I just get a beaver and an eggplant emoji text.”

Racey: Peter Crouch defends his use of cheesy emojis after wife Abbie Clancy calls his messages 'vile'

Racey: Peter Crouch defends his use of cheesy emojis after wife Abbie Clancy calls his messages ‘vile’

'Fairies': In an episode of their podcast in May, Abbey, 37, revealed how Peter, 42, would often send her a beaver emoji followed by an aubergine emoji whenever they were alone at home

‘Fairies’: In an episode of their podcast in May, Abbey, 37, revealed how Peter, 42, would often send her a beaver emoji followed by an aubergine emoji whenever they were alone at home

‘How mean is that? Should I say, “Oh yeah, I’m ready for it now.”

Speaking to This Morning, Peter defended the emoji, joking: “I’m trying to move with the times. It’s not something I want to say in the morning, but I like to put my cards on the table!’

Peter revealed that he loved working with his wife on their podcast after being “guarded” for years in his former career as a footballer.

‘With football you’re taught to be so guarded and that’s why the podcast works because you’re allowed to be open and honest and people can relate to that.’

In one of their more recent episodes, the couple revealed how they found themselves in hot water with one of their children over a crude prank.

Speaking on the podcast, Peter said: We went to the park and had a lovely day. It was nice and sunny and obviously I have a dog so I stay away from the ice cream van because apparently he’s just going to steal the kids ice cream or something.

“So I keep Geoffrey away and I just yelled over ‘I’ll have 99’ and Ab said, like quite quietly further down the line, ‘You sure you don’t want 69?’

Messages: Appearing on This Morning on Thursday to talk about their hit podcast The Therapy Crouch and their new book, Peter was asked about his love of the eggplant emoji

Messages: Appearing on This Morning on Thursday to talk about their hit podcast The Therapy Crouch and their new book, Peter was asked about his love of the eggplant emoji

Obsessed: Peter defended the emoji, joking:

Obsessed: Peter defended the emoji, joking: “I’m trying to keep up with the times. It’s not something I want to say in the morning, but I like to put my cards on the table!’

After bursting into a fit of giggles, Peter continued: “Obviously we had a big keg, I liked it, all right. Sofia then turns around – she’s 12 – “That’s disgusting!”

The 6ft 7in sportsman said he was in complete disbelief that she knew what the joke meant.

He added: ‘Please? I said, “You are a child. It’s a gag between me and your mother.” I couldn’t believe it. I said “Oh my God”‘.

Laughing, Abbey, 37, then added: “She said, ‘I know what it is mum.’ You are mean”. She said, “You’re disgusting.” She says, “I know what that means.”

Hilarious: In one of their recent episodes, the couple revealed how they found themselves in hot water with one of their children over a snarky prank

Hilarious: In one of their recent episodes, the couple revealed how they found themselves in hot water with one of their children over a snarky prank

The quick-witted mother-of-four then tried to cover her glare and said: “I said, ‘I’m just talking about a different style of ice cream.’ What are you talking about? That’s two flakes. It’s two flakes instead of one.”’

Abby and Peter have daughters Sophia (12) and Liberty (seven) and sons Johnny (4) and Jack (3).

The couple, who have been together since 2006, married in a lavish ceremony at Stapleford Park in Leicestershire in June 2011.

They later renewed their vows on a private island at the Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort last summer to celebrate 11 years of marriage.