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Vernon Kay
Vernon kay preston.jpg
Kay in 2007
Born
Vernon Charles Kay

(1974-04-28) 28 April 1974 (age 51)
Alma mater Manchester Metropolitan University
Occupation
  • Broadcaster
Years active 1995–present
Employer
Television T4 (2000–2005)
All Star Family Fortunes (2006–2015)
Beat the Star (2008–2009)
The Whole 19 Yards (2010)
Splash! (2013–2014)
1000 Heartbeats (2015–2016)
Spouse(s)
(m. 2003)
Children 2

Vernon Charles Kay, born on April 28, 1974, is a well-known English TV and radio host. He also used to be a model. He became famous for hosting T4 on Channel 4 from 2000 to 2005.

Vernon has presented many popular TV shows for ITV. These include All Star Family Fortunes, Beat the Star, Splash!, and 1000 Heartbeats.

He also had his own show on BBC Radio 1 for many years. Later, he hosted a show on Radio X. Since 2018, he has been the main host for the live coverage of Formula E races around the world. In 2023, Vernon started hosting the mid-morning show on BBC Radio 2.

In 2020, Vernon was a contestant on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. He finished in third place on the show.

About Vernon's Early Life

Vernon grew up in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. His dad, Norman, was a lorry driver, and his mom was Gladys. He has a younger brother named Stephen, who is a primary school teacher.

Vernon went to St Joseph's RC High School in Horwich. He later studied environmental science at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is a big fan of his hometown football team, Bolton Wanderers.

Vernon's Career Journey

Starting as a Model

Before becoming a TV star, Vernon worked in a DIY shop. He was cutting wooden panels and just living for the weekend. A friend convinced him to go to the BBC Clothes Show Live. There, he was spotted by a modeling agency. This was the start of his career in entertainment!

Becoming a TV Star

Vernon's success as a model helped him get into television. He started by co-hosting shows for teenagers. These included T4 on Channel 4 and The Mag on Channel 5.

In 2000, he also presented Fully Booked for CBBC. He also hosted music shows like TOTP+ Plus and TOTP@Play. In 2003, he co-hosted a game show called Boys and Girls. The next year, he hosted Celebrities Under Pressure on ITV.

From 2006, Vernon hosted the popular game show All Star Family Fortunes. This show ran for many years. In 2007, he hosted Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon.

Between 2008 and 2009, Vernon presented Beat the Star for ITV. In 2010, he co-hosted another ITV game show called The Whole 19 Yards. He also co-hosted Skating with the Stars in the United States.

In 2011, Vernon hosted the Christmas show Home For the Holidays on Channel 4. In 2012, he presented Let's Get Gold on ITV.

From 2013 to 2014, Vernon, Gabby Logan, and Tom Daley co-hosted Splash!. This was a diving show on ITV. In 2013, Vernon also became a presenter for The American Football Show on Channel 4.

Since 2014, Vernon has been a guest host on The One Show several times. In 2015, he started hosting the quiz show 1000 Heartbeats for ITV. In 2016, he presented Drive, an entertainment show.

In 2017, Vernon co-hosted The Hero Challenge on Sky Sports. In November 2017, he began hosting Channel 5's coverage of the Formula E motor racing season. He now co-presents the worldwide coverage of the 2018–19 season.

In November 2020, Vernon joined I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. He made it to the final and finished in third place. In 2021, he hosted the British version of a new game show called Game of Talents. In 2022, he also co-hosted The Great Comic Relief Prizeathon for Red Nose Day.

Vernon on the Radio

In January 2004, Vernon joined BBC Radio 1. He hosted an entertainment show on Sundays. Later, he got the popular Saturday morning slot from 10 am to 1 pm. He often filled in for other DJs, like Chris Moyles, when they were away.

On November 9, 2012, Vernon announced he would leave BBC Radio 1. He wanted to spend more time with his family. His last show was on December 22.

Three years later, Vernon returned to radio on the new Radio X network. In September 2015, he started hosting the weekday morning show. He left Radio X in March 2017.

Vernon returned to BBC Radio in 2021. He covered for other hosts on BBC Radio 2, including Rylan Clark and Steve Wright. From March 2022, he became the regular cover for Zoe Ball on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show.

In August 2022, Vernon started his own weekly show on BBC Radio 2. It's called Vernon Kay's Dance Sounds of the 90s. In 2024, he even took this show on tour as a DJ!

On February 24, 2023, it was announced that Vernon would be the new host of BBC Radio 2's mid-morning show. He took over from Ken Bruce and started his new show on May 15, 2023.

Vernon in Films

Vernon has made a few small appearances in movies. He was in Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Keith Lemon: The Film (2012). He also had an uncredited role in Hercules (2014).

Vernon's Personal Life

On September 12, 2003, Vernon married TV presenter Tess Daly. They got married at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Horwich. They have two daughters together, born in 2004 and 2009.

Vernon received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton in 2009. This was for his contributions to entertainment.

He is a big fan of his hometown football club, Bolton Wanderers. He also loves American football. He played for the Manchester Allstars when he was 13. In 2011, he even played for the London Warriors as a defensive back.

Vernon also enjoys flying model aircraft and drones as a hobby.

Vernon's TV Shows

Television
Year Title Channel Role Notes
1995 Hollyoaks Channel 4 Extra First episode
1998–1999 The Mag Channel 5 Co-Presenter
2000 Fully Booked BBC One Co-Presenter 1 series (FBi)
Top of the Pops Plus BBC Two Co-Presenter
Top of the Pops @ Play UK Play Co-Presenter
2000–2005 T4 Channel 4 Co-Presenter
2003 Boys and Girls Co-Presenter 1 series
2004 HeadJam BBC Three Presenter 1 series
Celebrities Under Pressure ITV Presenter 1 series
2005 Hit Me, Baby, One More Time Presenter 1 series (UK), 1 series (U.S.)
The Record of the Year Presenter
2006–2015 All Star Family Fortunes Presenter 12 series
2006, 2007, 2013 The Paul O'Grady Show Channel 4 / ITV Guest Presenter 3 episodes
2007 Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon ITV Presenter 1 series
2008–2009 Beat the Star Presenter 2 series
2010 The Whole 19 Yards Presenter 1 series
Skating with the Stars ABC Co-Presenter
2011 Home For the Holidays Channel 4 Presenter 1 series
Million Dollar Mind Game ABC Presenter 1 series
2012 Let's Get Gold ITV Presenter 1 series
2013–2014 Splash! Co-Presenter 2 series
2013–2015 The American Football Show Channel 4 Presenter
2014, 2016 The One Show BBC One Guest co-presenter 4 episodes
2015–2016 1000 Heartbeats ITV Presenter 2 series
2016 The Keith Lemon Sketch Show Himself Series regular
Drive Presenter 1 series
Walliams & Friend BBC One Presenter, Celebrity Slammer 3 episodes
2017 The Hero Challenge Sky Sports Co-presenter
2017—2018 Formula E Channel 5 Presenter
2018—2023 Formula E YouTube, other streaming platforms Presenter
2020 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! ITV Contestant Series 20
2021 Game of Talents Presenter
2021— Loose Women Guest Anchor Loose Men special, 2 episodes
2022 Rock Profile BBC One Presenter Red Nose Day special
The Great Comic Relief Prizeathon Presenter Co-presenter; with AJ Odudu
2024 M&S: Dress The Nation ITV Co-Presenter Alongside AJ Odudu
Guest appearances
  • It's Only TV...but I Like It (2002)
  • Shooting Stars (2002)
  • Bo' Selecta! (2003)
  • Davina (2006)
  • James Corden's World Cup Live (2010)
  • Celebrity Juice (2011, 2013, 2015)
  • Chris Moyles' Quiz Night (2011)
  • 8 Out of 10 Cats (2011, 2012, 2013)
  • Alan Carr: Chatty Man (2011)
  • Would I Lie to You? (2013)
  • That Puppet Game Show (2013)
  • Room 101 (2014)
  • Through the Keyhole (2014, 2015)
  • Celebrity Squares (2014)
  • Sunday Brunch (2015)
  • Go 8 Bit (2017)
  • How to Spend it Well at Christmas with Phillip Schofield (2017)
  • Celebrity Catchphrase (2023)
Radio
Year Station Role Notes
2004–2012 BBC Radio 1 Presenter Saturdays, 10 am – 1 pm
2015–2017 Radio X Presenter Weekdays, 10 am – 1 pm
2023- BBC Radio 2 Presenter Weekdays, 9.30 am – 12 pm
Film
Year Title Role
2012 Keith Lemon: The Film Himself
2014 Hercules Feasting hall guest (uncredited)
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