BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay issued an on-air apology after doing an impression of people from the Midlands while discussing a BBC Archive news report. The segment, which was about the construction of two Popemobiles for Pope John Paul II's 1982 visit to the UK, prompted a complaint from a listener in Solihull.
Speaking about the archived clip, which is available on YouTube, Vernon said: “In the vault today we’re going back to 1982. Now, believe it or not, we’re going to go to Solihull, and in Solihull we’re going to find out how you build a Popemobile.” He then attempted a Midlands accent, saying: “That’s right, Popemobile.”
Immediately after his impression, the presenter quickly apologised, adding: “I do apologise to all those people in the Midlands. It’s a good one today.”
Listener Complaints and Vernon's Response
Within minutes, Vernon received a text from a disgruntled listener who wrote: “Vernon, we don’t speak like that in Solihull, stop it, we are posh.” The radio host replied: “Course you are! Never said anything any different.”
This is not the first time Vernon has had to apologise live on air. In May, he issued a similar apology when new BBC director general Matt Brittin visited New Broadcasting House. At the time, Vernon jokingly apologised to licence fee payers after making a “dad joke” inspired by the song Boston by singer Stella Lefty. He said: “Stella Lefty, Boston, on BBC Radio 2. Do you know who she's dated? Fosters Righty...”
Vernon admitted: “I was quite pleased with it at first and then when I heard it, I was like, 'Oh that is rotten'. People pay their licence fee for that, I apologise. And the DG is in the building, hopefully he's got Radio 1Xtra on or something like that. Getting down with the kids.”
BBC Director General's Challenges
While Vernon has been issuing apologies, the new director general of the BBC, Matt Brittin, has been issuing warnings as the organisation looks to save money. Mr Brittin, a CBE, former Olympic rower, and former Google executive, has spoken about the challenges of his new role and the comparisons between sport and his new job, according to the Independent.
The DG, who represented the UK at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, spoke about what his time in the rowing boat taught him and how he will bring these qualities into his new role. He said: “There’s some things you can bring from sports into business, not everything – I think you can’t be so single-minded and focused – but from my sport, I learned a lot about team work. So what I try to bring is: get people to work together and move in the same direction. That’s something I really enjoyed doing at Google, and I’m only five weeks into the BBC, but what I found is brilliant people who are fantastic at the creativity…. I’m trying to get people rowing together and moving the boat faster.”
