Vernon Kay has said goodbye to one of his BBC Radio 2 colleagues, newsreader Harvey Cook, who is leaving the show for now but plans to return in the future. The 51-year-old presenter announced Cook's departure on air on Tuesday, thanking him for his contributions.
Cook, a freelance newsreader for BBC Radio 2 and 6Music, has also provided voiceovers for Sky, Channel 4, Disney, and narrated programmes on the History Channel, ITV One and Discovery. During the broadcast, Kay said: 'Harvey, don't you go anywhere my friend, we're going to say thank you to Harvey Cook because he's moving on, then coming back, then moving on, then coming back. But Harvey, thank you for doing the news on this show, it's greatly appreciated. It's always nice to have someone who can actually bring some gravitas to the show.'
Cook responded: 'It's more au revoir than goodbye. I'll be back. It's been an absolute pleasure and to be part of the Radio 2 family, you know what it's like, it's been a great pleasure.' Cook previously paid tribute to the late Steve Wright in 2024, calling him a 'true legend'.
In a separate announcement, Kay also revealed the death of Radio 2 network manager Ian Deeley, aged 45, who died unexpectedly. Kay described Deeley as a 'broadcaster at heart' who loved radio 'with every fibre of his being'. Deeley had worked on outside broadcasts including pop festivals, the BBC Proms and royal events, and was lead engineer for the D-Day 80th celebrations in Normandy.
