BBC Radio 2 found itself at the centre of an unexpected scheduling mix-up on Wednesday when presenter Vernon Kay was abruptly replaced on his mid-morning show, leaving colleagues scrambling and listeners surprised.
On-Air Confusion as Hosts are Swapped
The confusion unfolded live on air when breakfast show host Scott Mills, 51, admitted he had no prior knowledge that Paddy McGuinness would be stepping in for Vernon Kay. Mills confessed to McGuinness during the broadcast: 'I was about to say it's 9:30 here's Vernon Kay, because nobody told me you were in for Vernon today, I just thought you'd just come in to see me.'
As the two broadcasters shared a moment of amusement about what they jokingly called 'disappointment on both sides', Mills elaborated on the last-minute revelation. 'I am glad you're here, but I was playing Chic and [producers] went, right "Paddy's here" and I said "Vernon" and they said "No Paddy" anyway have a lovely show.'
The Royal Reason Behind Vernon's Absence
The unexpected host change came with a royal explanation. Vernon Kay was actually attending Windsor Castle to support his wife, Tess Daly, 56, as she received her MBE honour. The couple were joined by their eldest daughter Phoebe, 21, for the special occasion.
While Vernon appeared suited and booted for the formal ceremony, Tess and Phoebe both chose chic midi dresses complemented by matching fascinators, marking a proud family moment away from the radio studios.
Fresh From an On-Air Apology
The scheduling surprise came just one day after Vernon Kay issued an on-air apology for accidentally swearing during his show. The broadcaster, who has hosted the mid-morning slot since May 2023 and shares 16-year-old daughter Amber with Tess, made the slip-up while discussing Sara Cox's Great Northern Marathon Challenge for BBC Children In Need.
Responding to an emotional advertisement for Sara's marathon effort, Vernon exclaimed: 'It does indeed! Bl***y hell.' Quickly realising his mistake, he squirmed and corrected himself: 'I mean flipping hell, oh gosh. Sorry, sorry, I apologise, I apologise.'
Vernon later explained that his emotional reaction was triggered by a particularly moving story about a 12-year-old boy whose twin had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, admitting 'that got me that.'
Meanwhile, Sara Cox's charity challenge continued as the 50-year-old presenter embarked on Radio 2's longest-ever BBC Children In Need Challenge - a gruelling 135-mile journey from Kielder Forest to Pudsey in Leeds. The five-day expedition, which relies entirely on walking or jogging without vehicle support, has already raised over £439,000 for the charity.
