BBC Radio 2 favourite Vernon Kay has candidly shared the story of a painfully awkward on-air moment that still makes him cringe, a brutal lesson from his early days in radio that taught him to always know his audience.
Recalling the incident during a chat on the 'How To Be 60' podcast with Kaye Adams, Vernon described the instant regret he felt after telling a joke that landed with a deafening thud. The ill-fated comment was made during a live broadcast from a caravan, a far cry from his current plush BBC studio.
The Joke That Fell Spectacularly Flat
"I was doing a outside broadcast from a caravan... and I went, 'The only difference between this caravan and my mother-in-law is that the caravan has tow bars'," Kay recounted. The joke, a cheap shot at his then-future mother-in-law, was met with dead silence from the assembled crowd and a sinking feeling in his stomach.
He immediately knew he had crossed a line. The attempt at humour wasn't just a misfire; it was a direct insult to the family of his now-wife, Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly. The moment served as a harsh, public lesson in filtering his banter before it left his mouth.
A Lesson Learned The Hard Way
Vernon didn't shy away from admitting his mistake. He confessed that the joke was "terrible" and acknowledged the valuable, if embarrassing, takeaway: "You've got to be careful what you say on the radio." This early career misstep clearly left a lasting impression, shaping the more polished and professional presenter he is today.
Now a beloved host on one of the country's most popular radio stations, the incident is a humble reminder that even the biggest stars have moments they'd rather forget. It's a story of growth, learning from your mistakes, and understanding that what might seem like a laugh in your head can have very real consequences once it's broadcast to the nation.
