Vernon Kay, the BBC Radio 2 presenter, has voiced his disappointment after failing to secure a win at this year's ARIAS ceremony. The 52-year-old broadcaster and his production team were shortlisted for the Best Event Coverage award, one of the UK's most prestigious audio and radio industry honours, hosted by Rylan Clark at London's The Roundhouse on May 21.
While Vernon was absent from the event, he connected live during his mid-morning programme with team members who attended, including his show's producer, Janine. When asked about the evening's outcome, Janine remarked: "Honestly, what a privilege, we were saying how lucky to just spend an evening with some amazing creative fantastic people in the radio world and to just enjoy celebrating their successes, amazing."
Vernon responded with a wry quip: "That's Janine politely saying, 'We're absolutely gutted that we lost', well done Janine, you're such a professional, I wouldn't have said that."
Narrowly Missed Out on Top Honour
The team had been shortlisted for the Best Event Coverage award for Vernon's At The Oasis Homecoming Concert, competing against eight other contenders. The category's top prize was claimed by Tandem Productions for BBC Radio 3's Train Tracks coverage, with The Shipping Forecast Day by BBC Radio 4 and Greatest Hits Radio's Live Aid Relived coverage following behind.
Despite missing out on the award, Janine maintained there were no hard feelings. "I honestly... what an amazing state the radio is at the moment, it's a fantastic world full of some fantastic creative people making fantastic things," she continued.
Jumping in, Vernon, who recently announced his split from wife Tess Daly, added: "Doing fantastically well, with fantastic radio." However, the broadcaster confessed he remained gutted by the outcome. "But I'm a little bit competitive and I was disappointed, not for me, because I never went out but for the team," he shared.
Praise for Colleagues and Lighthearted Banter
The father-of-two continued to commend his BBC colleagues for "working so hard" on the coverage, adding: "I'm sure everyone works so hard on the three teams that won the bronze silver and gold, of course they do, because they got recognised to do quality radio, but you know our team did work exceptionally well, and it's personal so do you know what I mean?"
After Janine jokingly encouraged him to "let it go", Vernon replied: "Love you guys, shut your face."
The BBC Radio 2 presenter also celebrated the achievements of numerous BBC stars at the ceremony, including Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball, who scooped an award for their Dig It podcast. While Vernon's programme didn't claim a trophy, it proved a triumphant evening overall for BBC Radio 2.
The station bagged silver awards for Best Sonic Branding and UK Radio Station or Radio Network of the Year, while TBI Media for BBC Radio 2 also landed the Best Music Entertainment Programme award with Romesh Ranganathan.
