Radio 2’s Vernon Kay in awkward on-air confrontation after ‘insulting’ BBC colleague

Vernon Kay was involved in an awkward on-air confrontation with a fellow radio star after complaining someone had been “messing around” with and “ruining” his studio this morning.

Vernon, 50, told Radio 2 listeners he suspected colleagues from Radio One had been behind the incident, after muffs with the station branding had been found in the studio. He added he would “just blame” Greg James, the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show presenter.

It prompted suggestions that Lancashire-born Vernon was “insulting” his colleague. Undeterred, he confronted Greg live on air. Vernon said: “Can you have a word with your team? It’s a disgrace.”

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Greg responded: “It’s not me Vern, I’ve checked and it’s not them either. I’ve checked everyone”

Greg suggested the team working on Radio 1’s New Music Show, suggested it could have however been an inside job. To which Vernon responded: “It must be someone, the mic muffs were Radio 1 muffs. We leave it all nice and spotless, we have a spirit level which makes sure everything is fine.”

Greg added: “Janice is in early every morning and she’s in when we’re in, she knows how tidy and good we are, it’s true.”

Vernon however insisted the studio was left like a “children’s playroom” in the morning, although the star insisted he wasn’t “having a pop” at Greg.

The breakfast show star responded: “You’ve changed, you’re still Radio 1 at heart. I will put an all-staff email out, I’ll put some cameras out. Do you know what?

“I’m going to go on guard. When I get in early, I’m going to do a sweep of your studio just to check everything is okay for uncle Vernon, because we don’t want you cross this Christmas.”

Vernon ended the confrontation by stressing Greg was a “fine example of professionalism” and a “top bloke”.

Vernon presented on Radio One between 2004 and 2012, when he was replaced by Matt Edmonson. After a stint on Radio X, he returned to the BBC in 2021, originally standing in on a Saturday for Rylan Clark.

He was handed the mid-morning slot in 2023 after Ken Bruce left the BBC. His show airs on weekdays from 9.30am.