BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay has candidly addressed his health concerns as he spoke about his anxieties surrounding ageing. The broadcaster, who celebrates his 52nd birthday today (April 28), has previously discussed his fitness regimen and his determination to maintain good health for as long as possible. He recently revisited the topic at the conclusion of Fearne Cotton and Gary Davies' programme and at the beginning of his own show earlier today.
Vernon's comments came after Gary wished him a happy birthday and referenced a mini-mix of songs he had compiled with the help of listeners. In response, Vernon revealed there had been some discussion about the theme of the mix. He said: "There was a debate this morning… that it would be all about pretty much me and my ailments, my bad knees, my bad back, losing my memory, that kind of stuff." Gary replied: "No it wasn't." Vernon later added that his back was improving, telling Gary: "I woke up this morning and the pain in my back was at least 60 percent less than it was yesterday."
This was not the only surprise for Vernon, who also disclosed that he received birthday greetings from numerous fellow passengers on his train journey to work. He said: "Do you know what? When we sit in meetings and we talk about the audience for BBC Radio 2 and we’re told that it’s huge and the demographic is massive and this, that and the other, you don’t realise it until something like this morning happened. You mentioned my birthday, you did the mini mix for me which I really appreciate, some great tunes in there, and listeners to BBC Radio 2 who catch my train came and said hello and happy birthday — of which there were many."
This is not the first time Vernon has spoken about his health on air. Last week, he discussed living with Morton’s neuroma, a nerve condition that affects the third and fourth toes. The NHS describes the condition as a "thickening of tissue" around nerves in the foot. Speaking about his experience and how he finally received a diagnosis, Vernon told listeners it came about following a chance meeting at an electric car charging station.
He explained: "So yesterday I was at the services, I was charging the electric car, and I was struggling a little bit with the machine that actually does it — I was faffing around. I didn’t know how to pay, I didn’t know how to get it started. Anyway, we got there in the end and this gentleman who was parked in the bay next door to my car wound down his window and said, ‘Hi Vernon.’ I said, ‘How are you?’ We shook hands, he said, ‘You alright there? You struggling?’ I said, ‘A little bit, I think it’s working now.’ When we said that it went [buzzing noise] and then it started to charge my car. We got chatting away — ‘Where are you going? Blah blah blah.’ I said, ‘I’m going just down the road but I’ve run out of energy so I’m just topping up my car.’ ‘Brilliant, what do you do for a living?’ ‘I’m a foot specialist.’"
Vernon later added that he convinced the specialist to take a look at his foot there and then. The specialist agreed, which led to the issue being identified and Vernon arranging a formal consultation that resulted in a diagnosis.
