Vernon Kay misses BBC Radio 2 show after being 'unable to talk'

Vernon Kay has been forced to call in sick for his BBC Radio 2 show after listeners complained he was barely audible.

The radio host made a valiant effort to get through his two-and-a-half-hour show on Monday morning with a sore throat, despite his voice regularly cutting out to a whisper.

But listeners said that the station should have found a cover presenter for him, and on Tuesday morning Kay shared that he was "under doctors orders" to take a day off sick.

He posted on Instagram: "Morning everyone. Under doctors orders I’m resting my voice. It should be alright tomorrow but I’m going to slide away from the microphone this morning and just rest the vocal chords. They’re a bit strained, allegedly. Very hoarse. But I’ll be back tomorrow."

Who is standing in for Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2?

In Monday's show, Zoe Ball joked with her colleague that either she or Scott Mills could cover for him until his voice came back.

But those tuning in to Kay's show at 9.30am on Tuesday found that Gaby Roslin - who also helped out as cover for Ball during her six-week break from the station - was presenting the show instead.

She said: "Gaby in for Vernon Kay, it’s a joy to be here. Vernon, I hope your throat is feeling better. I was listening yesterday, loved the show but did worry about your throat. So just take it easy, no talking today."

Why is Vernon Kay not on BBC Radio 2 today?

Regular BBC Radio 2 listeners will know that Kay was struggling to make himself heard when he turned up to work on Monday.

The broadcaster has now been told he has to stay at home to rest his voice and is hoping to be back on Wednesday, but he had a tough time with a sore throat during Monday's show.

His voice kept cutting out to a whisper as he tried to open his show at the start of the week and he said: "I apologise, I'm a bit groggy this morning."

Zoe Ball, who was welcomed back to the breakfast show after a six-week absence, handed over to him and said: "Oh no, you sound terrible!"

Kay explained: "I've woken up with a hideous throat. It's going to be more music, less chat."

Ball, whose show was covered by Celebrity Race Across The World winner Scott Mills while she was away, asked: "Shall we get Scott Mills in?" But Kay replied: "No, we'll be alright. It's just going to be a little bit awkward for two and a half hours."

"That's what happened to Jo (Wiley) when she was doing Glastonbury this year," said Ball. "It's the thing when your voice sounds normal and then it cracks, it's like being a teenager. Good luck, do you want me to hover, just in case? They've had enough of me. Good luck, you're going to need it."

One listener commented on X: "Has @BBCRadio2 got no one who could fill in for @vernonkay today? Love him to bits but if he can hardly speak at the start whats he going to be like by the end!?"

Someone else agreed: "@vernonkay sounds dreadful with his sore throat on the radio. Surely it wd have been better to stay off?" They later added: "It's actually a bit unprofessional I m o. I don't know what @BBCRadio2 are thinking of. It's 1 thing him going in, but Vernon wasn't sent home sounding like that when he's on for 2.5 hours?"

Another listener added: "Good grief. @vernonkay is paid to talk. Today he unable to talk due to a throat infection. Get him off!"