Vernon Kay accidentally swore live on-air on BBC Radio 2 on Tuesday. 

The broadcaster, 51, 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.'

Sara spoke to Scott Mills on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show (6.30am-9.30am) live from the start line: '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. 

'It's definitely wet and soggy, but it's going to be OK. Look, I am from Bolton myself, and we are used to a little bit of soggy weather. It's absolutely fine.

'People have turned up with banners and I have seen my first banner with my name on it, and people have come with their dogs, so that's very on brand for me.

'I did dream that my husband left me with two of my dogs on the challenge, and I was dreaming, going: 'You can't leave me with the dogs babe. I have got to do this Challenge.'