Vernon Kay lands HUGE new radio role at the BBC featuring the world's biggest singers including Sir Rod Stewart and Rick Astley

Vernon Kay has landed an amazing new radio role at the BBC after taking over Ken Bruce’s Radio 2 show last year.

The presenter, 49, has impressed bosses and is now gearing up to front Radio 2’s Piano Room which will see some of the world’s biggest singers perform live with the incredible BBC concert orchestra.

During each session artists will perform a few songs including one of their classic hit singles and a cover.

The Piano Room, which will air on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer from January 29 to February 23, will feature the likes of Sir Rod Stewart, Jools Holland and Jess Glynne.

Also joined the stars will be Paloma Faith, Rick Astley and The Libertines. 

Vernon Kay has landed an amazing new radio role at the BBC after taking over Ken Bruce’s Radio 2 show last year

The presenter, 49, has impressed bosses and is now gearing up to front Radio 2’s Piano Room which will see some of the world’s biggest singers perform live with the BBC concert orchestra (Pictured Rod Stewart in 2019)

Sir Rod and Jools are set to team up to cover a Billie Holiday classic while the Hold My Hand singer Jess will perform Fleet Wood Mac.

Brit Award winner Paloma will take on Tracey Chapman while Never Gonna Give You Up hitmaker Rick will take on an Olivia Rodrigo number.

Speaking ahead of the live shows, Vernon gushed that he is really ‘excited’ to be part of the new BBC series. 

He told The Sun: ‘I am excited as not only is it all live, but with the BBC concert orchestra it gives the music a bit of a punch. I have seen Noel Gallagher and Def Leppard it has been absolutely awesome’.

It comes after Vernon revealed how he often bumps into predecessor Ken Bruce on his way to work after taking over the DJ’s BBC Radio 2 show last year.

The former Family Fortunes host proved there was no hard feelings between the pair and said they regularly enjoy a catch up on the journey.

Ken, 72, jumped ship to join commercial rival Greatest Hits Radio in March after hosting the same BBC slot since 1986 – with Vernon announced as his replacement two months later.

Vernon told The Radio Times: ‘We take the same train every morning! He gets on a few stops further down the line but we bump into each other all the time – we say hello and have a chinwag’.

During each session artists will perform a few songs including one of their classic hit singles and a cover

The Piano Room, which will air on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer from January 29 to February 23, will feature the likes of Sir Rod Stewart , Jools Holland and Jess Glynne (pictured in 2023)

Discussing the big shoes he had to fill Vernon said: ‘Ken did 31 years in the mid-morning slot but in 31 years, I’ll be 80′.

‘There’s no way I’ll be sat at this desk! It’s a precious slot that needs the utmost respect. It’s not about me or Ken, it’s about the listener’.

Radio Industry body Rajar have reported how Vernon has lost 1.3M listeners since taking over the mid-morning show, with an average of 6.9M tuning in. With figures spanning June to September 2023.

Meanwhile in the same period over at Greatest Hits, Ken has increased the audience of his new show by 800K to 3.7M.

Previously he said he had left the BBC after three decades in the same slot because it was ‘time for a change’ and it felt ‘like the natural culmination of some planning I’ve been doing’.