Bolton’s own Vernon Kay was part of a special welcome reception as the Rugby League World Cup trophy arrived at Bolton’s Albert Halls. The Radio 2 broadcaster and This Morning presenter was among an array of rugby stars and sporting professionals to welcome the World Cup to his home town.
The I'm A Celebrity star, who shot to fame on Channel Four's T4 in the early noughties, was thrilled to be back in the historic town hall, and in the mayor's parlour where he worked as a cleaner for the council after graduating from Manchester Polytechnic, now Manchester Metropolitan University.
The 48-year-old father-of-two, who is married to Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly, was joined by the winning teams from the Festivals of Rugby League, the council’s deputy leader, Coun Hilary Fairclough and newly appointed chief executive, Sue Johnson, ahead of the England men's team taking on France at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday October 22 as one of only a few select towns to host a Rugby League World Cup event.
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Bolton-born TV presenter and I’m A Celeb star Vernon Kay said: “Getting young people involved in sports is so important – and it’s great to see my hometown of Bolton doing everything they can to encourage the younger generation of people to embrace rugby league.”
He added: “It’s an exciting time for Bolton and I’m proud to come from a town that champions its local community. It’s great that we’re getting the chance to host an international sporting event of this size – and just goes to show that as a town we have so much to offer.”
Vernon, who attended St Joseph's School in Horwich, has a lifelong passion for American football and last week visited the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He told us: "Growing up I was tall and skinny and I had an engine on me. I was into football and cross-country. I didn't take to rugby because I wasn't built for it."
He said about the importance of building positive attitudes to sport and physical activity in children from an early age: "We are in danger of carrying on being on an iPad and we are danger of saying 'that's a sport' but it's not."
Asked if he and Tess and daughters Phoebe, 17, and Amber, 13, keep fit together as a family he chuckled: "We have two dogs so we don't have any choice."
Before their stint on I'm a Celebrity ...Get Me Out Of Here! set in north Wales two years ago, the celebs were self-isolating during lockdown. Vernon kept himself busy while away from his family in a remote farmhouse by going for runs in the Welsh countryside.
"I was doing lots of weights and a lot of running to stay active," he said. If we can encourage as mang kids as possible to get into sport that's important."
Vernon, who went on to come third on I'm a Celebrity, with Radio One presenter Jordan North in second place and author and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher in first place, won over a new generation of adoring fans as he ran the gauntlet in the castle and was dubbed 'Vernon Bae' on social media.
In July he had fans swooning as he shared a snap of himself in the gym on his Instagram and said: "Getting(Sweating..) it done!! #gym #target50 #fit4fifty."
Among the guests welcoming Vernon at the reception were members of the Westhoughton Lions, who successfully secured more than £300,000 in investment for their new clubhouse through a CreatedBy grant provided by the Rugby League World Cup.
Sharing a video from the mayor's parlour Vernon said on his Instagam: "This is bringing nack a lot of memories. This is the mayor's parlour. When I used to work for the council I used to clean this room.
"So I've been in here many early mornings. Hoovering this floor, cleaning all them chairs, dusting that table ovrer there. Such a historic town, should be a city, Bolton. Absolute joy to be back."
Coun Fairclough, added: “All of Bolton is so excited to welcome the Rugby League World Cup to town, from our grassroots clubs and professional players past and present, to school pupils and local celebrities.
“We have shown over the years that Bolton is the perfect host venue for major international events like this, as well as offering the opportunity to grow the sport of Rugby League outside of its traditional heartlands.
“Communities across the borough are already benefiting from investment in the grassroots game and we are confident the legacy of this tournament will be seen for many years to come.”
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