The people of Bolton for supporting Vernon Kay during his epic ultra ultra marathon for Children in Need.

The year saw one of Bolton’s finest sons, Vernon, join fellow Boltonian Sara Cox on daytime Radio 2, the UK’s most listened to radio station in the UK with 13.5m listeners.  

The Bolton-born broadcaster took over the Radio 2 show from veteran Ken Bruce, 72, in May, who helmed the mid-morning weekday programme for 31 years.

Head of Radio 2, Helen Thomas said: “I’m extremely proud of Vernon, who took over the mid-morning slot on Radio 2, the most listened to show in the country, in April.

The Bolton News: Head of BBC Radio 2 Helen ThomasHead of BBC Radio 2 Helen Thomas (Image: BBC)“And he’s ended the year retaining that crown as the UK’s most listened to radio programme with 6.9m listeners – as well as raising over £6m for Children in Need – what an incredible achievement. “Vernon’s warmth and wit has proven to be a huge hit with our audience, and I couldn’t be happier with the show.”

Earlier this year, Vernon covered 115 miles over four days, ending his ultra ultra marathon for Children in Need on Radio 2 challenge, in his hometown of Bolton.

Millions followed his challenge on air, local news, and social media, and with the help of Bolton Wanderers Football Club, several hundred lucky listeners were invited to the Toughsheet Community Stadium to watch the show live as Vernon returned.

“Taking the Radio 2 Breakfast Show out of the studio is always a challenge, but this special show was made easier thanks to everyone at Bolton Wanderers Football Club, who worked overtime to help us out. 

The Bolton News: Vernon Kay completes his Ultra Ultra Marathon Challenge for BBC Children in Need on BBC Radio 2 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in Bolton on Friday 17th November 2023.Vernon Kay completes his Ultra Ultra Marathon Challenge for BBC Children in Need on BBC Radio 2 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in Bolton on Friday 17th November 2023. “The show was a challenge to produce as we didn’t know how Vernon would be feeling or how fast he would be walking or running, so to allow him to spend a little time at his high school, St Joseph’s in Horwich, I agreed the Radio 2 Breakfast Show could be broadcast beyond 9.30am, so Zoe and the team would stay on air until Vernon arrived at the stadium. 

“It was touching to see hundreds of school children cheering Vernon through the grounds of the school, where he met some of his old teachers as well as all of the current pupils.

“It was clearly very special to him. 

“As Vernon crossed the finish line in the stadium, I can safely say that everyone, including his parents and all his family who were there, were in tears.”

Helen says that following Vernon’s challenge, audience research for BBC Radio 2 shows that more people in the Bolton area are now tuning into the station.

“I’m looking forward to the station giving our millions of listeners many reasons to tune in in 2024, including a very special Piano Room month early next year. 

“We’ve also got new series on gospel, reggae, brass music, A Big Night of Musicals, and Vernon returns from his Christmas holidays on mid mornings in January.”

On his final show for the festive period, Vernon said: “The Radio 2 audience got behind us and we raised over £6m, and the people at Children in Need have said that the money that we’ve raised, and all the charities that will benefit from that amount of cash will help so many people, so knowing that is probably the best gift ever after the aching knees, the torn Achilles, the bad back, the right shoulder going kaput, but knowing that a lot of people are going to benefit from all the money we all raised as a family means so much.”

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.