Vernon Kay was forced to backtrack during his BBC Radio 2 mid-morning show on October 20 after he jokingly called traffic reporter Ellie Brennan "the Harlot of the Hard-shoulder". The presenter quickly realised he could not say the phrase on air and apologised, admitting he had not checked its meaning.
An awkward nickname attempt
Kay introduced Brennan as "Lady of the Lanes" before trailing off, searching for other motoring-themed nicknames. Brennan suggested he was "buying yourself a bit of time". Kay continued: "Can you hear the cogs? The Queen of the Carriageway, yeah, the Heroine of the Highway." A colleague proposed "the Duchess of the Dual Carriageway".
As Brennan prepared to give her traffic update, Kay interjected with "the Harlot of the Hard-shoulder". Both burst out laughing as Kay conceded he couldn't "say that" on air. He hurried to reassure her it was not a personal dig, saying he had only gone with it because "it just rhymed". He imitated the sound of a reversing lorry, apparently rowing back on his remark.
Google check and apology
After the segment, Kay admitted: "I've just given it a Google. Yeah, it's not what I thought it meant. Yeah, education is key. You learn something every day. Wow, that's definitely not you. Accidental Partridge are having a field day right now. I know; now, I've just given it a Google, I'm like, 'Oh no, it's quite offensive'. Watch your facts, please."
Accidental Partridge appears to be an X account that shares and pokes fun at celebrity gaffes and mundane moments in the style of Alan Partridge, the cult comedy character played by Steve Coogan.
Previous banter with Ellie
This follows an earlier occasion when Kay joked with Brennan that he had been "outed" after she quizzed him about peculiar graffiti relating to music he allegedly enjoys while in the bath. During that broadcast, she asked: "I've got something to bring up with you. Have you seen this thing going around about you online?"
Kay replied: "Oh, it's not the scrolling under the bridge, is it?" Brennan continued: "If you haven't seen it, this is going everywhere. There's graffiti that says 'Vernon Kay listens to Steps in the bath'... Is that true?" Kay responded by belting out a few lines of their track Tragedy, declaring: "Yeah, I've been outed!"
In West Denton, Newcastle, the peculiar writing had been cropping up day after day, leaving locals puzzled. Another bizarre claim read: "Lorraine Kelly is barred from Wetherspoons for stealing cutlery". Another stated: "Stacey Solomon gives Joe a sticker for helping with the dishes".
Personal background
Kay has been in the spotlight recently following his split from wife Tess Daly, the former Strictly Come Dancing presenter. The pair, who share two daughters, announced their separation in May after 23 years of marriage. In August, reports suggested Kay had bought a new property around 15 minutes from the family home in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, reportedly snapping up a £3 million home. Until then, Kay had continued living with Daly and their daughters.
