Vernon Kay disclosed on Friday's Celebrity Gogglebox that he battles Morton's neuroma, a foot condition he described as a "massive issue." The presenter discussed the nerve problem with his friend Paddy McGuinness during the Channel 4 show, which aired on July 10, 2026.
What Is Morton's Neuroma?
According to the NHS, Morton's neuroma involves a "thickening of tissue" around a nerve in the foot, commonly causing sharp, searing pain in the ball of the foot, often with tingling or numbness in the toes. Sufferers sometimes feel like they are standing on a small stone.
Kay told McGuinness: "I've got a massive issue with my left one [toe]. I've got Morton's neuroma, I can't feel my left toe. All the nerve endings on my toes - I can't feel my toes." McGuinness, shocked, gestured toward Kay's toe and asked, "What, that one?" Kay raised his leg and replied, "Yeah, squeeze as hard as you can." McGuinness compressed Kay's toes with maximum force, but Kay remained unfazed. McGuinness asked, "You can't feel that?" Kay confirmed, "Nope. Nothing."
Treatment and Chance Encounter
While Morton's neuroma can often be relieved with rest or ibuprofen, some sufferers may need to see a GP or podiatrist. Kay previously recounted a chance encounter with a foot specialist at a service station on his Radio 2 programme. He said: "I was at the services, charging the electric car, and I was struggling a little bit with the machine. This gentleman parked next to me wound down his window and said, 'Hi Vernon.' We got chatting, and he said, 'I'm a foot specialist.'"
Celebrity Gogglebox airs Friday nights from 9pm on Channel 4.
