Former All Star Family Fortunes host Vernon Kay has called on the Government to provide more help for lower earners, branding the state of the country "absolute garbage". The 48-year-old TV and radio presenter is set to make his pantomime debut in Cinderella in Wycombe this Christmas.
And he thinks collective activities and experiences such as panto are important as people try to navigate turbulent times. “I try not to watch the news, because when I leave after that half-hour of television, I feel so depressed," he said.
"I feel so down in the dumps, because at the moment it’s nothing but bad news. The war, the energy crisis, food banks are empty, the volume of people requiring a food bank is going up, the pound is collapsing, the Government’s in turmoil... it’s just absolute garbage.
“And I think there needs to be something where, as a collective, we can do stuff together. So I think things like pantomime, I think investment in parks and public spaces, I think maybe giving kids free access to drama lessons, or open football coaching down at your local playing field…
“Stuff where we do activities with families together, but also stuff that just separates us for an hour or two hours every week, out of reality, because that’s what we need, because it’s just crap at the moment.”
Kay, who is married to Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly, expressed his dismay with the mini-budget delivered by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng last month. He said: “The Government coming up with tax breaks for the rich and wealthy – I’m just like, ‘Are you kidding me?’
“What about tax breaks for those that need them the most, those who go out and graft every single day? They are the backbone of Great Britain.”
Starring in panto is a new challenge for Kay, and one he admits he is a little apprehensive about. “When I said yes, it was kind of excited nervousness," said Kay, who will play Dandini in the show.
"Then I sat in on the castings for a few of the characters for experience and then I felt that kind of imposter syndrome, where you’re like ‘Oh my god, these people are amazing’. And then I got the script and I got really apprehensive, and I started learning the script and I’m getting really anxious, and hopefully all of those emotions, when we get into the rehearsal room, they’ll all blend into one and it’ll just be like ‘Screw it, let’s do it!'”
– Vernon Kay will star as Dandini in the Wycombe Swan Theatre production of Cinderella from December 9 to December 31.
