Vernon Kay has thanked listeners after his BBC Radio 2 programme recorded a third consecutive set of rising listening figures, prompting an outpouring of support from fellow broadcasters.
The presenter, who separated from his Strictly Come Dancing star wife Tess Daly earlier in 2026, shared the update on October 29 following the release of the latest audience data.
Thank you message
In a statement, Vernon said: “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Three sets of listening figures in a row, on the up! It’s greatly appreciated. Myself and the team are buzzing! You’ve made us all very HAPPY!! THANK YOU for tuning in and allowing us to have so much fun on national radio.”
The post drew quick reactions from his colleagues, with Melvin Odoom adding three clapping emojis to the comments and Radio 2 co-star Ellie Brennan writing: “Top team!”
Support from fans and co-stars
BBC Breakfast’s Matt Taylor liked the post, while one fan wrote: “You are the best thing about that place!” Another added: “Love mornings on Radio 2, top show!”
Nickname explanation
The update follows an incident in which Vernon was accused of being disrespectful to colleague Janine Maya-Smith. While reading listener letters, a fan named Jack from Bolton objected to Vernon’s nickname ‘Janice-Janine thingy’ for Janine, while co-star Phil McGarvey is often called Pmac.
The letter read: “Hi Vernon team. Well, I’m very unhappy at Janice-Janine additional name. I don’t think adding thingy at the end is respectful at all. She’s a great person and comes across beautifully on the radio. Rude. Just RUDE. Please, cease forthwith.”
Vernon explained the origin of the nickname, saying: “Well, Jack, there’s a story behind it. OK. There was a group of young ladies in Stirling. They were from, can you remember where they were from, Janice-Janine thingy?” Janine said they were from The Shetlands, and Vernon continued: “They were introduced to Pmac. They knew Pmac’s name, they were very excited and they knew your name, but it didn’t come out as Janice-Janine.”
Janine said the group were “a bit excited”, and Vernon added: “They said, ‘Oh, it’s Pmac and… thingy!’ So that’s where it comes from. And you’ve got to remember the reason why we called Janine Janice is because Jeremy, who you’ve worked with for more than 25 years, actually forgot your name, so that’s why you have the moniker Janice-Janine, and now, thingy.”
