Vernon kay admits ‘feeling terrible’ live on air as he seeks diagnosis

PRESENTER VERNON KAY SAYS HE HAS BEEN 'DIAGNOSED BY THE NATION' AS HE DISCUSSED A HEALTH PROBLEM HE FACES DURING HIS MID-MORNING BBC RADIO 2 SHOW 08:00, 30 May 2025 Vernon Kay

admits he was left feeling “terrible” as he believes a potential health problem has been “diagnosed by the nation”. During his BBC Radio 2 show, Vernon admitted he was feeling a “bit ropey”

on Thursday. It led the 51-year-old to confess that he suffers from a seafood allergy. It means Vernon is unable to eat prawns or cockles - a type of small edible shellfish. He says he

discovered the allergy after undergoing a test. Vernon however believes he could need to undergo another one, after listeners have raised concerns about his health. He made the revelation

after playing a jingle advertising the BBC iPlayer coverage of Radio 1’s Big Weekend. Around 100,000 people were believed to have descended on Liverpool’s Sefton Park for the three-day

festival last weekend. Acts performing included Tom Grennan, Mumford & Sons, Biffy Clyro and Wet Leg. Article continues below Vernon said: “Radio 1, how are you feeling? A bit ropey, no,

honestly, terrible, I’m sure I’ve eaten a prawn or a cockle. I’m allergic to cockles. When asked if it has been a “big problem”, Vernon replied: “It’s not like I stumble upon a pot of

cockles on a regular basis, but you know when you do one of them tests where they check your blood. “I did it ages ago but I’m going to do another one because I talk about it on the radio

and a lot of people think I might be lactose intolerant. Honestly, I’ve been diagnosed by the nation without having a face-to-face consultation. “Tess Daly from Strictly Come Dancing is

going to do one and I’m going to do one as well. The last one I did, yeah, cockles.” When asked if he had ever had a cockle, Vernon replied: “No. It’s like dipping your foot in a pool of

lava. ‘Oh, I know that’s dangerous, why don’t I try it?’ “Winkles were very popular on the beach at Blackpool and I think my mum and dad used to like them with a lot of vinegar, not for me.

In the polystyrene cups you used to get winkles and cockles and clams and all that kind of stuff.” Vernon met wife Tess when they were both presenting on rival television channels. Vernon

was working on Channel 4 for T4 while Tess was fronting SMTV Live on ITV. The relationship blossomed and the couple tied the knot on 12 September 2003 at St Mary's Catholic Church in

Horwich, near Bolton. They now live in Buckinghamshire with daughters Phoebe, 20, and Amber, 15. Article continues below Former Radio 1 presenter Vernon took up his current mid-morning show

on Radio 2 after the departure of veteran broadcaster Ken Bruce in 2023. He had previously acted as a stand-in for Rylan Clarke and Zoe Ball.