Vernon Kay
Encyclopedia
Vernon Charles Kay is a British
television presenter, radio DJ, american footballer and former model
. He began television presenting on the BBC
children's programme FBi, a spin-off of Fully Booked
. Since he has presented various programmes, most notably T4
, Beat the Star
and All Star Family Fortunes alongside his weekend show on BBC Radio 1
. In 2010 he was named the host of Skating with the Stars
, which was broadcast in the United States
.
, Greater Manchester
, the son of Norman and Gladys; he has a younger brother, Stephen. He attended St Joseph's R.C. High School
in Horwich
, near Bolton
, and then St John Rigby College
in Orrell
, near Wigan
. He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University
with an HND
in Environmental Science
. He supports his hometown's football club Bolton Wanderers
. He used to be a regular visitor to Manchester nightclub The Haçienda
.
and BBC Children's presenter Kate Heavenor
. The series was shown on the BBC from 22 April until 23 September 2000 and was filmed in Glasgow
.
. He also presented Boys and Girls
, HeadJam
, Celebrities Under Pressure
and California Dreaming
. He presented Hit Me, Baby, One More Time which was broadcast on British television in 2005. The series was then picked up by NBC
for broadcast in the USA, which Kay also hosted.
In 2005, Kay hosted the annual The Record of the Year
competition. Also in 2005, Kay competed with other celebrities in a series titled Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon
, in which television personalities battled each other in a series of well-known game formats that had been featured on ITV over the past 50 years. The series was screened as part of ITV
's 50th anniversary celebrations. Kay managed to reach the final of the competition, but ended up losing to Carol Vorderman
and her family, in a special edition of Family Fortunes
.
began in 2006 with Kay as the host; the first episode was broadcast on 28 October 2006. The series is now titled All Star Family Fortunes as it features celebrities and their families as well as the contestants. Kay was also selected to host the second series of Gameshow Marathon
in 2007.
In 2006, he presented alongside his wife Tess on the BBC One
celebrity
singing contest Just the Two of Us. In 2006, he hosted a segment on ITV
's coverage of The Prince's Trust
30th Birthday Live and a special entitled Duet Impossible, featuring contemporary music stars performing with their deceased pop heroes via technical wizardry.
He presented The Paul O'Grady Show
as a substitute host on two occasions (23 October 2006 and 9 May 2007).
. The game — Beat the Star
— broadcast on ITV1
in an eight part series, which ran from 20 April 2008 to 22 June 2008. In the final episode, Phillip Schofield
surprised Kay by revealing that Kay himself was to be that night's star rather than the presenter. Kay then went on to beat the marine
contestant through a series of the seven challenges.
have presented ITV1
's Saturday night game show The Whole 19 Yards
. Kay will also be the host of the ABC
reality competition show Skating with the Stars
.
, which premiered October 23, 2011 on ABC
.
and presented an entertainment show every Sunday. In April 2004, he was given the 10 am – 1 pm weekend slot, which was previously hosted by Colin Murray
and Edith Bowman
and previously broadcast on both Saturdays and Sundays on the popular radio network. From October 2007 Dick and Dom took over Sunday mornings; Kay's show now runs between 10 am – 1 pm on Saturday. In 2008 he was one of a team of DJs who filled in for Edith Bowman
while she was on maternity leave along with Fearne Cotton
and Nihal
.
On 11 February 2009 it was announced that Kay would fill in for Chris Moyles
while he is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
for Comic Relief
, an act he repeated on 13 July 2009 when Moyles took a day off. He also filled-in for Pete Tong
's Essential Selection on Radio 1 on 10 April 2008. Kay will again fill in for Chris Moyles
from 10 August until 15 August when he has two weeks off. The first week will be covered by the regular cover presenter Scott Mills
. From 30 November 2009 Kay, again, covered for Chris Moyles
on breakfast for a whole week as Moyles, Aled Haydn Jones
and Fearne Cotton
were away in Uganda
handing out malaria nets and seeing how the money raised from the Mount Kilimanjaro
climb for Comic Relief
was being spent.
on 12 September 2003, at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Horwich
, in Bolton.
They have two daughters together: Phoebe Elizabeth Kay, who was born on 17 October 2004 in Westminster
, London, and Amber Isabella Kay, born on 30 May 2009 in London. They live in Fulmer
, Buckinghamshire
.
Kay received an honorary
doctorate
from the University of Bolton
on 9 July 2009, for services to entertainment.
Kay is a passionate supporter of Bolton Wanderers F.C.
. He is also a fan of American football, joining the Manchester Allstars at the age of 13 and reuniting the team in 2011 for a one-off match against the Birmingham Lions. In 2011, he signed for the London Warriors, for whom he plays in the BAFA Community Leagues
Premiership as a defensive back
.
In February 2010, Kay admitted to exchanging racy text messages to Rhian Sugden
, a glamour and Page 3 model, after they had met in a Bolton nightclub.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
television presenter, radio DJ, american footballer and former model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
. He began television presenting on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
children's programme FBi, a spin-off of Fully Booked
Fully Booked
Fully Booked was a magazine show for children produced by BBC Scotland and broadcast from 1995 to 1999, and in revised form as FBi in 2000. The show was a summer-time replacement for Live & Kicking, which would normally not broadcast over the summer months...
. Since he has presented various programmes, most notably T4
T4 (Channel 4)
T4 is a scheduling slot on Channel 4 from about 09:00 until 14:00 on Saturdays and 17:00 on Sundays. It also airs on weekdays in the school holidays. The slot has a separate station identification on screen graphic from Channel 4 and E4. The logo of T4 is noticeably the top right segment of the...
, Beat the Star
Beat the Star
Beat the Star is a British game show airing on television network ITV. It is the British version of the Schlag den Raab franchise, based on the German game show Schlag den Raab...
and All Star Family Fortunes alongside his weekend show on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. In 2010 he was named the host of Skating with the Stars
Skating with the Stars
Skating with the Stars is an American reality TV show. The show features celebrities paired with professionals from the world of figure skating. The show is based on the British show, Dancing on Ice. The show has a schedule similar to the first season of Dancing with the Stars with performance...
, which was broadcast in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life
Kay was born and raised in BoltonBolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, the son of Norman and Gladys; he has a younger brother, Stephen. He attended St Joseph's R.C. High School
St Joseph's RC High School and Sports College, Horwich
St Joseph's RC High School and Sports College is a Voluntary Aided comprehensive school situated on Chorley New Road in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England....
in Horwich
Horwich
Horwich is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest from the city of Manchester. It lies at the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors with the M61 motorway close to the...
, near Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, and then St John Rigby College
St John Rigby College (Wigan)
St John Rigby College is a sixth form college in the Orrell district of Wigan, Greater Manchester situated in a estate surrounded by the Lancashire countryside...
in Orrell
Orrell, Greater Manchester
Orrell is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The area is contiguous to the town of Wigan itself and the centre of the district is situated to the west of the town centre...
, near Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
. He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University is a university in North West England. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the...
with an HND
Higher National Diploma
A Higher National Diploma is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom. This qualification can be used to gain entry into universities, and is considered equivalent to the first or second year of a university degree course....
in Environmental Science
Environmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
. He supports his hometown's football club Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. He used to be a regular visitor to Manchester nightclub The Haçienda
The Haçienda
Fac 51 Haçienda was a nightclub and music venue in Manchester, England. It became most famous during the "Madchester" years of the late 1980s and early 1990s, during the 1990s it was labelled the most famous club in the world by Newsweek magazine...
.
2000
Kay presented the Saturday morning children's programme FBi alongside Boyzone's Keith DuffyKeith Duffy
Keith Peter Thomas Francis John Duffy is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor, drummer, dancer and television presenter. He began his career as part of Boyzone in the 1990s. In the 2000s, he achieved critical acclaim for his acting roles, particularly in soap operas such as Coronation Street and Fair...
and BBC Children's presenter Kate Heavenor
Kate Heavenor
Kate Heavenor is a Scottish children's television presenter for the BBC. She began her career on the then-new BBC digital channel, BBC Choice, presenting The Crew Room, a Saturday morning show. She later moved on to the main BBC services, presenting shows such as Fully booked, FBI, Children In...
. The series was shown on the BBC from 22 April until 23 September 2000 and was filmed in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
2005
Kay is a former host of T4T4 (Channel 4)
T4 is a scheduling slot on Channel 4 from about 09:00 until 14:00 on Saturdays and 17:00 on Sundays. It also airs on weekdays in the school holidays. The slot has a separate station identification on screen graphic from Channel 4 and E4. The logo of T4 is noticeably the top right segment of the...
. He also presented Boys and Girls
Boys and Girls (TV series)
Boys and Girls was a British television gameshow broadcast in 2003 by Channel 4.The series was produced by Chris Evans, but the format was created by a Young Woman from Hertfordshire who was not paid for her creation. The show was presented by Vernon Kay...
, HeadJam
HeadJam
HeadJam is a BBC television game show hosted by Vernon Kay. It originally aired during the summer of 2004 on BBC Three, with a repeat soon afterwards on BBC Two.It featured two teams, each consisting of a member of the public and a celebrity...
, Celebrities Under Pressure
Celebrities Under Pressure
Celebrities Under Pressure is a Saturday night entertainment show which aired in the United Kingdom on ITV.The show follows families allowing a celebrity to live with them for a week as they attempt to learn a new skill from their hosts. The celebrity's progress is followed through a video diary,...
and California Dreaming
California Dreaming (TV series)
California Dreaming was a British reality television programme, broadcast on Channel 4's T4 strand, that followed six British celebrities seeking success in Hollywood. They lived in a Hollywood mansion and were trained by doing challenges set by acting guru Bernard Hillier...
. He presented Hit Me, Baby, One More Time which was broadcast on British television in 2005. The series was then picked up by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
for broadcast in the USA, which Kay also hosted.
In 2005, Kay hosted the annual The Record of the Year
The Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is an award voted by the UK public. For many years it was given in conjunction with television programmes of the same name...
competition. Also in 2005, Kay competed with other celebrities in a series titled Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon
Gameshow Marathon (UK game show)
Gameshow Marathon is a British game show, broadcast from 17 September 2005 to 26 May 2007 on ITV .After a quick retrospective look at the history of the particular show, the show itself is recreated. This involved recreating the original set and using original opening programme titles, including...
, in which television personalities battled each other in a series of well-known game formats that had been featured on ITV over the past 50 years. The series was screened as part of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's 50th anniversary celebrations. Kay managed to reach the final of the competition, but ended up losing to Carol Vorderman
Carol Vorderman
Carol Jean Vorderman MBE is a British media personality, best known for co-hosting the popular game show Countdown for 26 years from 1982 to 2008. In September 2011 she became a co-anchor of the ITV1 panel show Loose Women....
and her family, in a special edition of Family Fortunes
Family Fortunes
Family Fortunes is a British game show, based on the American game show Family Feud. The programme ran on ITV from 6 January 1980 to 6 December 2002 before being revived by the same channel in 2006 under the title of All Star Family Fortunes...
.
2006
A revival of Family FortunesFamily Fortunes
Family Fortunes is a British game show, based on the American game show Family Feud. The programme ran on ITV from 6 January 1980 to 6 December 2002 before being revived by the same channel in 2006 under the title of All Star Family Fortunes...
began in 2006 with Kay as the host; the first episode was broadcast on 28 October 2006. The series is now titled All Star Family Fortunes as it features celebrities and their families as well as the contestants. Kay was also selected to host the second series of Gameshow Marathon
Gameshow Marathon (UK game show)
Gameshow Marathon is a British game show, broadcast from 17 September 2005 to 26 May 2007 on ITV .After a quick retrospective look at the history of the particular show, the show itself is recreated. This involved recreating the original set and using original opening programme titles, including...
in 2007.
In 2006, he presented alongside his wife Tess on the BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
singing contest Just the Two of Us. In 2006, he hosted a segment on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's coverage of The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
30th Birthday Live and a special entitled Duet Impossible, featuring contemporary music stars performing with their deceased pop heroes via technical wizardry.
He presented The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show was a BAFTA award-winning British comedy chat show hosted by Birkenhead-born comedian Paul O'Grady. The format was originally devised by Granada Television and was broadcast on ITV before moving to Channel 4...
as a substitute host on two occasions (23 October 2006 and 9 May 2007).
2008
In 2008 Kay hosted the English language adaption of the German television programme Schlag den RaabSchlag den Raab
Schlag den Raab is a game show airing on the German television channel ProSieben. A candidate who can beat Stefan Raab in a number of disciplines wins the jackpot.- Premise :...
. The game — Beat the Star
Beat the Star
Beat the Star is a British game show airing on television network ITV. It is the British version of the Schlag den Raab franchise, based on the German game show Schlag den Raab...
— broadcast on ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
in an eight part series, which ran from 20 April 2008 to 22 June 2008. In the final episode, Phillip Schofield
Phillip Schofield
Phillip Bryan Schofield is an English broadcaster and television personality best known for presenting shows such as This Morning, Dancing on Ice, and various game shows including The Cube.-Early life and career:...
surprised Kay by revealing that Kay himself was to be that night's star rather than the presenter. Kay then went on to beat the marine
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
contestant through a series of the seven challenges.
2010
Since April 2010, Kay and Caroline FlackCaroline Flack
Caroline Louise Flack is a British television presenter. She is known for presenting I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! from 2008 to 2010....
have presented ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
's Saturday night game show The Whole 19 Yards
The Whole 19 Yards
The Whole 19 Yards was a physical/general knowledge game show broadcast on ITV and on ITV1 HD/STV HD. It first aired on 17 April 2010 and currently airs on Saturday nights at 19:00. It is presented by Vernon Kay and is assisted throughout by Caroline Flack who explains how each game is played,...
. Kay will also be the host of the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
reality competition show Skating with the Stars
Skating with the Stars
Skating with the Stars is an American reality TV show. The show features celebrities paired with professionals from the world of figure skating. The show is based on the British show, Dancing on Ice. The show has a schedule similar to the first season of Dancing with the Stars with performance...
.
2011
In 2011, Kay was appointed moderator of the Million Dollar Mind Game, an American version of the Russian intellectual show What? Where? When?What? Where? When?
What? Where? When? is an intellectual game show well known in Russian-language media and other CIS states. It is produced for television by TV Igra on the Russian Channel One and also exists as a competitive game played in clubs organized by the ....
, which premiered October 23, 2011 on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
.
Radio
In January 2004, Kay joined BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
and presented an entertainment show every Sunday. In April 2004, he was given the 10 am – 1 pm weekend slot, which was previously hosted by Colin Murray
Colin Murray
Colin Murray is a Northern Irish sports and music radio and television presenter. He is the current host of the BBC Television show Match of the Day 2 on BBC Two, and the BBC Radio 5 Live shows 5 Live Sport and Fighting Talk, as well as a show on BBC Radio Ulster. He has previously hosted regular...
and Edith Bowman
Edith Bowman
Edith Eleanor Bowman is a Scottish music critic, radio DJ and television presenter. She is mostly known for hosting the weekday afternoon show and from September 2009 weekend morning on BBC Radio 1 and for presenting a variety of music related television shows and music...
and previously broadcast on both Saturdays and Sundays on the popular radio network. From October 2007 Dick and Dom took over Sunday mornings; Kay's show now runs between 10 am – 1 pm on Saturday. In 2008 he was one of a team of DJs who filled in for Edith Bowman
Edith Bowman
Edith Eleanor Bowman is a Scottish music critic, radio DJ and television presenter. She is mostly known for hosting the weekday afternoon show and from September 2009 weekend morning on BBC Radio 1 and for presenting a variety of music related television shows and music...
while she was on maternity leave along with Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show...
and Nihal
DJ Nihal
DJ Nihal is an English radio and TV presenter, as well as club night promoter and DJ, currently broadcasting on BBC Radio 1, BBC Asian Network and since August 6, 2010 BBC Radio 5 Live...
.
On 11 February 2009 it was announced that Kay would fill in for Chris Moyles
Chris Moyles
Christopher David Moyles is an English radio and television presenter and author, who currently presents The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 and Chris Moyles' Quiz Night on Channel 4....
while he is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
for Comic Relief
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
, an act he repeated on 13 July 2009 when Moyles took a day off. He also filled-in for Pete Tong
Pete Tong
Peter "Pete" Tong is an English DJ who works for BBC Radio 1. He is known worldwide by fans of electronic music for hosting programmes such as Essential Mix and Essential Selection on the radio service, which can be heard through Internet radio streams, for his record label FFRR Records, and for...
's Essential Selection on Radio 1 on 10 April 2008. Kay will again fill in for Chris Moyles
Chris Moyles
Christopher David Moyles is an English radio and television presenter and author, who currently presents The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 and Chris Moyles' Quiz Night on Channel 4....
from 10 August until 15 August when he has two weeks off. The first week will be covered by the regular cover presenter Scott Mills
Scott Mills
Scott Robert Mills is a British radio DJ, television presenter and occasional actor, best known for presenting The Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio 1...
. From 30 November 2009 Kay, again, covered for Chris Moyles
Chris Moyles
Christopher David Moyles is an English radio and television presenter and author, who currently presents The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 and Chris Moyles' Quiz Night on Channel 4....
on breakfast for a whole week as Moyles, Aled Haydn Jones
Aled Haydn Jones
Aled Haydn Jones is a Welsh radio producer and radio presenter. Since 2004 he has worked on The Chris Moyles Show.-Personal history:...
and Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show...
were away in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
handing out malaria nets and seeing how the money raised from the Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
climb for Comic Relief
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
was being spent.
Personal life
Kay married Tess DalyTess Daly
Helen Elizabeth "Tess" Daly is an English television presenter. She is married to the presenter Vernon Kay.-Early life:Daly was born in Derbyshire to Vivian , who died of emphysema, and Sylvia Daly...
on 12 September 2003, at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Horwich
Horwich
Horwich is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest from the city of Manchester. It lies at the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors with the M61 motorway close to the...
, in Bolton.
They have two daughters together: Phoebe Elizabeth Kay, who was born on 17 October 2004 in Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, London, and Amber Isabella Kay, born on 30 May 2009 in London. They live in Fulmer
Fulmer
Fulmer is a village and civil parish in South Buckinghamshire district in Buckinghamshire, England. The village is now contiguous with Gerrards Cross but remains administratively separate....
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
.
Kay received an honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from the University of Bolton
University of Bolton
The University of Bolton is a university in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It has around 14,000 students across all sites and courses, with 700 academic and professional staff. Around 70% of its students come from Bolton and the North West region...
on 9 July 2009, for services to entertainment.
Kay is a passionate supporter of Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. He is also a fan of American football, joining the Manchester Allstars at the age of 13 and reuniting the team in 2011 for a one-off match against the Birmingham Lions. In 2011, he signed for the London Warriors, for whom he plays in the BAFA Community Leagues
BAFA Community Leagues
The BAFA National Leagues are the primary American football competition in England, Scotland and Wales. They were formed by the British American Football Association in 2010 to coordinate contact football and flag football across all age ranges...
Premiership as a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
.
In February 2010, Kay admitted to exchanging racy text messages to Rhian Sugden
Rhian Sugden
Rhian Marie Sugden is an English glamour model and Page Three girl.Sugden applied to the Samantha Bond Agency in London, which represents many famous Page 3 Girls. After being accepted by the agency, Sugden gave up her job as a network administrator for Global Telecoms and Technology in Bury...
, a glamour and Page 3 model, after they had met in a Bolton nightclub.