Vernon Kay has opened up during a chat with Zoe Ball on Radio 2 after it was announced that he will be long-running host Ken Bruce's replacement for the BBC station.
The 48-year-old television presenter became emotional during the interview and said it was a “big deep breath” when deciding to take over from the veteran broadcaster on his mid-morning BBC Radio 2 slot because it's “big shoes” to fill.
Vernon, who celebrates 20 years of marriage with Tess Daly this year, will take over in May after Ken's final 9.30am to 12pm show after 31 years in the hot seat on-air. The dad-of-two admitted he was apprehensive to take over for Ken who he hailed as a "legend" amid major backlash from listeners upset at the latest schedule shake-up.
It comes as Bruce announced on Friday that he has been told to leave the BBC earlier than planned on March 3. He tweeted: “I will be presenting my last show on Radio 2 next Friday.
“I had intended fulfilling my contract until the end of March but the BBC has decided it wants me to leave earlier. Let’s enjoy the week ahead!”
Appearing on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, Kay said: “My dad is a lorry driver and I said this when I joined Radio 2 and started standing in for Steve Wright, so we’ve always had Radio 2 on in the background.
“It is part of us, it is in our DNA – Ken Bruce is mid-mornings. You don’t think of any other DJ when you think of that slot.
“Whatever channel you choose to listen to, whoever is on mid-mornings, it’s the Ken Bruce slot. He has made it his own and he is an absolute legend of broadcasting.
“To be asked to step into those big shoes… it was a big deep breath, I’ll be honest with you. Obviously I am over the moon and so are my parents and Tess and the kids, but it’s the Ken Bruce show and the man has raised the bar so high that I’m just so excited to be able to take the reins.
“I am absolutely over the moon, I really am.”
The star continued to say: "I'm obviously over the moon but it's the Ken Bruce show. The man has raised the bar so high.
“It is part of us, it is in our DNA. Ken Bruce is mid-mornings. You don’t think of any other DJ when you think of that slot- he's made it his own. He's an absolute legend of broadcaster."
According to reports in The Mirror, Vernon went on to admit his parents, who are big fans of Ken's show, even jokingly piled on the pressure when it was announced he would be taking over from the veteran Radio 2 DJ.
He said: “First thing my dad said in the background… my mum always picks up, so in the background my dad went, ‘Big boots them, son’.
“My mums like, ‘Norman, give over. Leave him alone. Well done, love’.”
The 48-year-old star was moved to tears when reflecting on all the support he has received since he was announced as the new host.
He said: “One of the best things that has happened in the past few days is every single person on Radio 2 has messaged me and sent me an amazing either a voicemail, email, a Whatsapp… just saying how overjoyed that I’m joining the family… I’m getting quite emotional.”
It comes after Ken, 72, announced he was leaving the BBC in January before saying he will be moving to Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio in April to present a new mid-morning show from 10am to 1pm.
The radio host, who started at the BBC in his early 30s, said he will “always be proud” of his association with the BBC and Radio 2 but wants to continue his career “in a slightly different way in the next few years”.
BBC Radio 2 has seen a series of stars leaving the radio channel in the last two years including Paul O'Grady, Steve Wright, Craig Charles, Simon Mayo and Vanessa Feltz.
Ken's departure was announced on his radio show in January as the BBC later tweeted: "We have some news… After 31 years of presenting the 9:30am-midday weekday show Ken Bruce has decided to leave.
"We’re going to miss you lots Ken and want to congratulate you on a fantastic career at the BBC."
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