Vernon Kay: UKs Top Radio Host Amid Split

has continued his reign as the UK's most popular radio presenter. 

Last week, Vernon, 52, announced he had split from his wife , 57, after 23 years of marriage. 

The BBC revealed on Thursday that Vernon's show continues to be the most listened to on UK radio for the second year in a row, drawing in 6.6m listeners each week. 

The presenter took over the mid-morning weekday show on BBC Radio 2 from long-time broadcaster, Ken Bruce, back in 2023. 

Figures showed BBC Radio 2 held steady as the UK's most listened to single radio station with a weekly reach of 12.6m listeners. 

Back in March, it was reported Vernon was the bookies' favourite to replace Scott Mills on Radio 2's breakfast show after the presenter was sacked over his 'personal conduct'. 

Attention has turned to who could be Scott's successor, with a number of high-profile presenters tipped for the role. 

Vernon, the former host of 's Family Fortunes, was the early bookies' favourite on with odds of 6/4 to replace Scott, who was the BBC's 11th highest-paid star last year.

Other names being touted include Rylan Clark, Clara Amfo and Tony Blackburn. 

While Vernon finds success in his career, the presenter announced last week his marriage to Tess had sadly come to an end. 

Releasing a joint statement on May 8, the former couple said they had reached a mutual agreement to go their separate ways, though friends of the couple said they were both still at their marital home in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. 

They wrote: 'After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably. 

'This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire of what is best for both of us. 

'We remain great friends and, most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority.

'There are no other parties involved in this decision. We kindly ask for privacy during this time.

'We will not be making any further public comments.'

A source close to the pair told the publication: 'After they released the statement, Vernon and Tess .

'They only want the best for each other and their family. There has been no big fallout, more a gradual growing apart and wanting different things.

'They have vowed to stay friends and to keep things classy when it comes to the split and any future interviews they give. They only want the best for each other.'

Tess and Vernon – – were last seen publicly together in February of this year when they hosted an episode of The One Show. They are also food ambassadors for Marks and Spencer.

Friends of the two, who met while presenting Top Of The Pops@Play together in 2001, were stunned to learn of the news.

One said: 'When Vernon told me, I was stunned, I didn't see it coming, nobody did. This is going to take some getting used to.'

The former couple started dating after meeting in 2001, with Vernon going on to propose the following year, on Christmas Day.

They have been regarded as one of the strongest marriages in showbusiness, despite Vernon being ' Page 3 model Rhian Sugden in 2010. 

Tess was devastated when she learned that Vernon had been .

While they didn't have a sexual relationship, a distraught Tess battled to save their marriage and eventually forgave him.

Rhian later spoke about the scandal in Channel 4 documentary Page Three: The Naked Truth. She said: 'He just got away with it. It ruined everything for me. I felt like I was going up and up with my career and then that came along. 

'I wish I'd never met him. He got to give an apology on the radio and just got to carry on, with Family Fortunes, ironically. It still makes me feel sick.'