Vernon Kay's Radio 2 colleagues were left scrambling after he was absent from his show to support his wife Tess Daly as she received an MBE on Wednesday.

The radio host was replaced by Paddy McGuinness on his mid-morning show, but his colleagues admitted they had no idea he was taking the day off.

A stunned Scott Mills, 51, who hosts the breakfast slot, said he was unaware of the shake-up, just a day after Vernon, 51, issued an apology for swearing live on air. 

He told Paddy: 'I was about to say its 9:30 here's Vernon Kay, because nobody told me you were in for Vernon today, I just thought you'd just come in to see me'.

As his fellow broadcaster joked about 'disappointment on both sides' Scott went on: 'I am glad you're here, but I was playing Chic and [producers] went, right "Paddy's here" and I said "Vernon" and they said "No Paddy" anyway have a lovely show'.

Vernon was actually at Windsor Castle to support wife Tess, 56, as she received her MBE where the couple were joined by eldest daughter Phoebe, 21. 

While he was suited and booted for the occasion, Tess and Phoebe were both dressed in chic midi dresses with matching fascinators. 

It comes just a day after Vernon, who also shares 16-year-old Amber with his wife, accidentally swore live on-air.

The broadcaster who has hosted the mid-morning show since May 2023, was discussing Sara Cox's Great Northern Marathon Challenge for BBC Children In Need when he made the accidental slip-up.

Responding to an emotional ad for Sara's marathon challenge, which said towards the end: 'Go Sara go, you're doing fabulously, keep on moving, Sara's Great Northern Marathon Challenge continues', Vernon said: 'It does indeed! Bl***y hell.'

Squirming, he added: 'I mean flipping hell, oh gosh. Sorry, sorry, I apologise, I apologise.' 

After apologising for his live on-air blunder, Vernon seemingly explained that his reason for the slip-up was due to a young boy's story hitting him right in the feels. 

He continued: 'But that one there, the counselling one for a 12-year-old boy whose twin has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, that got me that.' 

Sara, 50, began the gruelling 135-mile Great Northern Marathon Challenge from the Kielder Forest on Monday morning.

The expedition, which is Radio 2's longest-ever BBC Children In Need Challenge and is set to take five days, kicked off with the star surrounded by locals as well as a more unique bunch of supporters.

At the starting line, the star was encouraged by a local bagpiper, and she was then met with Alpacas when she reached Northumberland. 

Speaking ahead of the challenge, Sara said: 'I'm feeling good. I'm feeling more relaxed than I have been for weeks because I've been so nervous in the buildup, but now we are actually here and we're going to do it, I feel good, thanks...

'I mean, the rain is not great. There's a lot of heavy drizzle, it has paused momentarily, but my toes are already soggy.'

After months of intensive training, Sara headed off while carrying a Pudsey Bear backpack weighing only 270 grams.

The mission is to get Pudsey to Pudsey in Leeds by Friday – a symbolic journey carrying BBC Children In Need's iconic mascot from border to heartland.

Covering 135 miles on foot across four counties – Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire – Sara's Great Northern Marathon Challenge marks Radio 2's longest-ever challenge in terms of duration.

She will only be relying entirely on her own feet – whether walking or jogging, with no other means of transport, such as bikes or cars on the mission.

Locals arrived to cheer Sara on, and Stuart Todd from Morpeth Pipe Band played Sara off as she began the journey on Monday morning.

Andrea Foote – a trustee of Morpeth Riding for the Disabled Association, who provide horse-riding lessons for disabled children – was designated horn-blower.

Sara said: 'I am going to be running when I can, and then I will be striding along…I may be occasionally stumbling, limping and weeping, but I will be getting my sorry self to Pudsey in Leeds on Friday.

'There are lots of surprises along the way, so listen to Radio 2 this week. The Pudsey backpack is very, very light, he has been made by some very clever people. He's super light, I am going to strap him to my back.

'I am going to be getting him the whole way to Pudsey hopefully – he has even got a little rain mac which is kind of cute, so I am going to pop that on in a minute.

'I don't know what state he will be in, to be honest, by the time we get to Pudsey, but we will look after each other.'