😳⚖️ LEGAL TWIST: VERNON KAY ISSUES BBC RADIO 2 STATEMENT ‘FOR LEGAL REASONS’ AFTER SHOCK ON-AIR CONFESSION

Vernon Kay(Image: ITV)

A red-faced Vernon Kay was forced into a swift U-turn after inadvertently letting slip his personal habits live on air. Recounting how he had spent much of the previous weekend pottering about in the garden, Vernon said: “I planted some stuff, I mowed again. I did lots of stuff, with [BBC Radio] 5 Live on in the background.”

Singing the praises of the 5 Live team, Vernon picked out Match of the Day presenter Mark Chapman as a particular highlight: “I like Mark Chapman. Great guy, great broadcaster… tremendous broadcaster.”

He said: “I always put 5 Live on Saturday afternoon,” before hastily adding that he “gets his fill” of BBC Radio 2 during the week, joking: “For legal reasons, I’ve got to say that … I like this job here!”

Sheepishly conceding that he hadn’t quite thought through his words before uttering them, Vernon added: “I was struggling, then. I think I drove myself into a cul-de-sac. Do you know what I mean? How do I get out of this?”

It’s by no means the first occasion Vernon has landed himself in hot water with an ill-judged remark.

He’s a huge fan of Mark Chapman

The Bolton-born broadcaster was compelled to air a complaint from one disgruntled listener who had been put off his breakfast sarnie by Vernon’s on-air banter.

“Dave from Oldham” had called in to say that Vernon owed him £2 as a result of an earlier incident. “I was eating a sausage and egg butty,” the irate listener had complained, “and you mentioned popping blackheads.”

He claimed to have been so disgusted by Vernon’s vivid description that he was forced to discard half of his sandwich.

“Come on Vern,” he said, as the presenter laughed heartily, “you’re better than this. You should know people are eating their breakfast.”

Unfazed by Dave’s grievance, Vernon revisited the topic of blackheads and encouraged listeners to purchase a magnifying mirror before remarking: “It’s like Pringles. Once you start popping, you’re not going to stop.”

He did later acknowledge, however, that “Dave from Oldham might have a point” after newsreader Ellie Brennan raised the subject of US dermatologist Sandra Lee’s Dr. Pimple Popper videos, as he finds the stomach-churning clips difficult to watch.

Vernon said the wrong thing at Party in the Park(Image: Getty Images)

On a separate occasion, Vernon joked that he was about to get “the sack” after heaping praise upon Radio 2 in the Park co-host Michelle Visage, 56, who counts his wife, former Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly, among her close friends.

The duo had been broadcasting live last summer from Chelmsford’s Hylands Park for Radio 2’s beloved annual event, which featured performers including Marti Pellow, pop sensation Jessie J and local favourite Olly Murs.

Michelle, who launched her career in girl group Seduction before achieving fame as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race, had been remarking on the scorching temperatures at the park at the time.

Vernon cheekily fired back: “But wherever you are is always hot,” before telling Michelle to write down his flattering remark and post it to herself.

“Put it in an envelope and send it back home,” he suggested. “When you go home, you can open that envelope. And you know what it’ll say? You’re hot.”