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Presenting a live BBC Radio programme isn't the simple job it might seem to be. While Vernon Kay earns in the region of £390,000 from the BBC every year, maintaining effortless conversation on air isn't necessarily as easy as it might seem. It is all too easy to blurt out the first thought that enters one's mind, only to discover a dreadful gaffe has been made.

More than six million listeners tune in to Vernon's programme each week, meaning a thoughtless casual comment can spread remarkably far. That, regrettably, was precisely what occurred yesterday when BBC Radio 2 travel correspondent Ellie Brennan arrived for work.

Ellie believed she was simply embracing the Eurovision atmosphere with some playful makeup, but Vernon completely misinterpreted the situation: "I don't know whether you've come as Ziggy Stardust, or whether you've come as a Harry Potter character. You've got a star over one eye and you're wearing what looks like a Harry Potter school scarf."

Ellie promptly corrected him, clarifying: "The scarf is just my outfit, so thank you for that... and then star is for the Austrian Eurovision entry this year, COSMÓ, who also wears a star - we spoke to him this morning.

"I thought you'd been to the Harry Potter fan store on Regent Street," an embarrassed Vernon responded, before quietly adding: "I just want the ground to swallow me up."

The Bolton-born broadcaster was not too mortified to revisit his Hogwarts-themed jest later, however, introducing Ellie's travel segment by declaring: "Here's Harry-Ellie Potter with the travel!"

Ellie took Vernon's ribbing in good spirits, but still complained: "Who needs enemies when you've got friends like these?"

Vernon's juvenile sense of humour has also reportedly caused friction in his marriage to former Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly, despite the pair sharing a common background, having both begun their careers as models before transitioning into television.

However, sources close to the couple suggest they have recently drifted apart, with Tess embracing life as a mature 57-year-old, while Vernon - a few years her junior - "is still a big kid".

A close friend of the pair claimed to the Daily Mail that Vernon and Tess now have very little in common. Vernon favours spending his leisure time attending concerts and watching American football. In the past year alone, he saw Oasis five times throughout their reunion tour - yet not once alongside Tess.

By contrast, Tess is said to favour unwinding on 'girls weekends' and is eager to be 'selfish' herself, now that she has departed Strictly Come Dancing.

The source said: "They are totally different people now. They used to have so much in common but things have changed. They have changed. They have aged differently.

"Tess needs to find a rich, older man with a yacht, while Vernon is still a big kid. He loves going out and having a good time, he loves to have a drink and a laugh. He loves the '90s disco nights that he puts on. He loves football, American football and Oasis. Tess isn't interested in any of that."