BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay admitted he was overcome with emotion, following a “week of anxiety” leading up to the big day nationwide
Vernon Kay told fans that he couldn’t “stop crying” this morning, after discovering his daughter Amber’s GCSEs results. The 51-year-old is one of the many parents nationwide celebrating their youngsters’ accomplishments, following what he described as a “week of anxiety”.
Before kicking off his programme, Vernon’s BBC Radio 2 colleague Scott Mills asked him if he was a “proud dad” on results day, to which he excitedly banged on his desk and exclaimed: “I’m a proud dad!”.
He continued: “I can’t stop crying Scott, I seriously can’t stop crying. It’s GCSE results day today and we’ve done alright.”
In response, Scott said he’d received numerous messages from parents who had similarly confessed to feeling “anxious” about the outcomes.
Vernon replied: “Ah, it’s horrendous, all the parents that have messaged, I’m by your side because the anxiety for the past week has been off the charts, so nervous.”
Taken aback by his confession, Scott enquired: “For a week?”.
“Yeah, a week because I think GCSEs are more important than A-levels,” Vernon explained. “Because from A-levels onwards, you can kind of fudge, you can blag [it] a little bit because you’ve got a little bit of something about you, but GCSEs are tough, it’s the first major step, well it’s not a step, it’s a stride.”
Later during the broadcast, Vernon informed his co-presenter Ellie that he was still in a “giddy mood” thanks to his daughter’s brilliant news. “I cried a lot this morning,” he confessed.
“I ain’t gonna lie, the girls have seen me crying this morning because our eldest filmed, with her phone on her lap, Amber getting her GCSE results, and I’ve watched it more than a dozen times, and I keep welling up, so just allow me today please.”
Vernon is a proud father to two daughters, Phoebe, 20, and Amber, 15, with his long-term wife, Tess Daly, who is a host on Strictly Come Dancing.
Contrary to his daughter’s success, the presenter confessed that he didn’t do as well in his school days.
“I am holding my hands up in the studio, my GCSE results [and] my A-levels were dreadful because I’m just not built for studying for exams, I’m more of a practical person,” he admitted.
Vernon went on to say that his mum was left in tears upon finding out about his results, and questioned what he “had been doing for two years”.
In an attempt to lift the spirits of those who also didn’t perform well in their exams, the presenter proceeded to name individuals who have still managed to carve out successful careers without top grades.
He concluded: “Don’t you worry, just go and have a moment to yourself, and then go and join your mates, because they’re still your mates. You’ll be alright.”
Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show airs weekdays from 9.30am