“Right then, here we go,” says Vernon Kay launching his Radio 2 show

Vernon Kay launched his brand-new show on BBC Radio 2 this morning at 9.30am.

He opened the show saying to listeners: “Right then here we go – the adventure, let it begin. Good morning everyone, welcome, welcome on board. Let’s do this!”

His opening track was U2’s Beautiful Day after which he said: “Tried and tested. My two daughters, Phoebe and Amber, they said ‘Yeah dad, it’s a classic. Play it!’ There you go, Beautiful Day, U2, kicking us off.”

Earlier, he appeared on BBC Breakfast from the Radio 2 studios and said: “I’m very, very excited. The BBC Radio 2 audience are very faithful and nothing has changed apart from the voice behind the microphone and I can’t wait to get started at 9.30 on the dot.”

He showed of a good luck cake with icing headphones on top and a gift bag with a bottle of something he’d been given by Radio 2 staff.

“After today’s show we are going to have some cake and wash it down with whatever’s in this. It’s from France and it’s a rose” he said.

Answering whether he was nervous, Vernon repeated that “it’s only talking, adding “it’s a skill we’re born with” and said: “It’s the connection with the audience, the bond that you have, so fingers crossed, people will stay with us.”

'I'm very, very excited'

Vernon Kay spoke to #BBCBreakfast as he prepared to take over the mid-morning slot on BBC Radio 2

Listen here: https://t.co/kWoaGvZDJw pic.twitter.com/TxJmvMAmGY

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) May 15, 2023