Vernon Kay was left embarrassed on BBC Radio 2 after co-host Sara Cox revealed an awkward blunder that scuppered plans for a highly anticipated Halloween costume unveiling.
The presenters were wrapping up their breakfast shows on Friday (October 30) when Sara, 51, turned her attention to Vernon's studio and couldn't help but mock what she witnessed.
After wishing listeners a happy Halloween and congratulating her nephew Dan and his new bride Evie, Sara hinted that Vernon's setup wasn't quite as frightening as anticipated.
Sara Cox's Teasing Remarks
She told him: "And over in Vernon's Studio, it doesn't look that spooky. There's a whiff of Book Day about it."
Vernon instantly knew he was about to be ridiculed, hitting back: "Shut your face Cox, I know where you're going at with this," reports the Express.
Sara wasn't willing to let him off lightly, asking whether he wanted to clarify what had occurred himself.
Vernon replied: "Thank you. Just let me cushion the fall from you throwing me under the bus. It's fine."
The Costume That Never Was
The presenter then disclosed there had been considerable buzz around Vernon's intended Halloween outfit, with listeners anticipating a major reveal during the show.
She recalled: "All the talk has been like, 'All right, now you're going to see his outfit. You wait till you see his costume, you wait.' And we're going to put the cameras on, and you'll see it."
But the surprise had collapsed before Vernon could display his costume.
"And then something went pear-shaped, but I'll let you explain," Sara added.
Vernon tried to clarify how the arrangements had fallen apart, likening himself to a moth attracted to a bright light.
"Well the thing is Sara, you know... You know what I'm like? I'm like a moth when it sees the fluorescent light in the garage," he said.
After Sara questioned whether he'd noticed something eye-catching that morning, Vernon confessed he'd simply failed to bring his costume with him when leaving home.
"Yeah I went chasing and left the house without my Halloween costume, so it's no surprise to many, disappointment to lots," he admitted.
Previous On-Air Gaffe
The latest incident follows just days after Vernon landed himself in an uncomfortable situation during another BBC Radio 2 broadcast.
The 52-year-old had referenced an earlier gaffe on his October 27 show while speaking with travel correspondent Ellie Brennan.
A week earlier, Vernon had introduced Ellie as the "Lady of the Lanes" before trying to devise alternative nicknames, including "Lady of the Layby".
However, one proposal turned out to be particularly regrettable when he described her as "The Harlot of the Hard-shoulder".
Realising he had used a term with an unintended connotation, Vernon swiftly looked up its definition and conceded he had got it wrong.
Reflecting on the mistake, he said: "I've just given it a Google. Yeah, it's not what I thought it meant. Yeah, education is key."
He subsequently acknowledged: "Oh no, it's quite offensive."
