**Vernon Kay Misses BBC Radio 2 Show After Being Stranded on Broken-Down Train**
Listeners of BBC Radio 2 were left surprised and, in some cases, amused on Tuesday morning, as regular presenter Vernon Kay was absent from his mid-morning show due to an unexpected travel mishap. The 51-year-old broadcaster, a staple of the station’s schedule since 2023, found himself enduring an uncomfortable train breakdown en route to the London studios, leaving his colleagues to hastily reorganise the day’s proceedings.
Kay, who was scheduled to take the airwaves at 9:30am, never made it to the microphone. Just before his show was due to start, Kay took to Instagram to inform fans of his situation, sharing a photo from the stranded carriage and quipping, “This train isn’t training!!” His light-hearted message sought to reassure listeners while reflecting the frustration of being stuck without amenities in the midst of a summer heatwave.
With rising temperatures—forecast by the Met Office to soar to 34°C in London—conditions inside the stationary train soon became increasingly unpleasant. Kay reported a lack of air-conditioning, coffee, and even deodorant, painting a vivid picture of commuter discomfort. “Poor Vernon stuck on a hot, sweaty train,” lamented fellow Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox as she briefly stepped in to keep the morning schedule afloat. “No coffee, no air-con… He’s going to get in at some point, hopefully.”
Cox, herself hailing from Kay’s hometown of Bolton, Greater Manchester, was already on air covering Scott Mills’ breakfast slot. As news came in of Kay’s predicament, she provided running commentary for listeners, explaining her impromptu takeover and lamenting her own missed appointment: “Oh no, I’ve just realised I’m not gonna be in time for reformer Pilates.”
To account for Kay’s continued absence, Cox kept the audience updated while veteran broadcaster Gary Davies was quickly drafted in to take over from 10am. Davies, a familiar voice on Radio 2, updated listeners further, humouring the chaos by explaining, “They had to send a rescue train, which also broke down!” Such logistical woes are not unfamiliar to frequent rail users, though it is relatively unusual for them to cause such high-profile disruptions to live broadcasts.
In an effort to maintain audience engagement and transparency, Davies played several voice messages from Kay, who thanked him for “covering the show and being a gentleman.” The sense of camaraderie between presenters offered a lighter note to the morning’s troubles, as did Kay’s update that, “We’re at Wembley Station now, we’ve gone backwards. But I’m going to miss you, we’re not going to get there ‘til after 12, so there’s no point.”
Tuesday’s episode was not an isolated incident among radio presenters. On the same day, Ken Bruce—Kay’s predecessor on the BBC Radio 2 mid-morning slot, now with Greatest Hits Radio—also found himself delayed by a train breakdown. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Bruce apologised to his followers for his own late arrival due to similar issues on the rail network.
Such travel disruptions raise perennial questions about the reliability of Britain’s railways, particularly during periods of extreme weather. While listeners were generally understanding, the incident inevitably generated much discussion online, with many expressing both sympathy and amusement at the presenters’ public travel woes.
Despite his absence, Kay remained engaged with his audience via social media and on-air voice notes, exemplifying a modern presenter’s commitment to keeping in touch regardless of circumstances.
This latest incident highlights the unpredictable nature of live radio, where even the best-laid plans can be upended by events beyond any presenter’s control. For Radio 2, the day served as a timely reminder of the resilience and flexibility required behind the scenes to keep national broadcasts on track—even when the trains themselves are not.
Listeners can expect Kay to return to his usual slot, no doubt with a fresh tale to share about his memorable journey. In the meantime, his colleagues and the BBC team demonstrated the adaptability that keeps the station running smoothly, whatever the disruption.