Latest news with #GSCEs
Edinburgh Live
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Vernon Kay addresses 'stressful' time at home as he makes 'terrible' admission
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Vernon Kay admits he was "terrible" after escaping his family home for a round of golf. BBC Radio 2 star Vernon has opened up about the "stressful" time at home with Strictly star Tess Daly and their family due to exam season. Tess and Vernon share daughters Phoebe, 20, and Amber, 15, together. Vernon has previously revealed GCSE season is "up and running" at home. The former Family Fortunes presenter said the exams were "torturous" for some children. On Monday, Vernon told viewers he decided to go for a round of golf to escape the exam pressures at home. He told listeners: "Friday, I treated myself to a couple of holes of golf. "I was terrible, it was awful. We had a bit of stress with GCSEs so I had five minutes and it was really bad, so I went and had a golf lesson on Saturday morning, and it got worse." (Image: tessdaly / Instagram) During a light-hearted moment discussing his golfing woes, Vernon quipped: "Baby steps, baby steps, that's what they keep telling me." Vernon previously opened up about the exam season when a Radio 2 listener said they were trying to convince their son to revise. It prompted the 51-year-old to reminisce about his own childhood. Vernon said: "[We've] "Got GCSEs on the they're here. We've started ours, we're up and running. "Of course, it's stressful. I remember my I don't...I'm lying, it was so long ago - 1990 I did mine. "I remember sitting there thinking, 'Gosh, I wish I'd revised'. I'm not remembering anymore, it's making me depressed." Vernon went on to say he "hated" exams because he was "rubbish" at them. He added: "It's not the way education should be for me, more practical, playing out, hide and seek, I'd have got A+ in that. (Image:) "It's torturous for some kids, isn't it? If you've got who are going through GSCEs, just put your arm around them. "There's nothing else they can do. There's no point cramming. You can cram all you want in your revision, which we all did, let's be honest, but you've just got to hold their hand haven't you? "Guide them along, make sure they're alright between their ears, in their noggin'." The love story between Vernon and Tess began when they were both rising stars on competing TV channels, with Vernon at Channel 4's T4 and Tess on ITV's SMTV. Despite their professional rivalry, the couple quickly fell for each other, with Tess, aged 56, recalling an "immediate" connection and memorable times together. Vernon popped the question on Christmas Day in 2002 amidst festive celebrations at Tess's family home. Their wedding took place at St Mary's Church in Horwich, Vernon's birthplace, followed by a reception at Rivington Hall Barn. Not long after tying the knot, Tess became pregnant, welcoming their first child, Phoebe, into the world on October 17, 2004, in London. Nearly five years on from the birth of Phoebe, Tess Daly and Vernon Kay were delighted to announce the arrival of their second daughter, Amber, born on 30 May 2009. Vernon shared with the Sunday Mirror, "She is absolutely beautiful and I am thrilled."
Edinburgh Live
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Tess Daly's husband Vernon red-faced after seeing 'different side' to Claudia Winkleman
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Vernon Kay was left bemused after uncovering an old interview with Claudia Winkleman, who fronts Strictly Come Dancing with his wife Tess Daly . The 51-year-old presenter unearthed the throwback clip during his BBC Radio 2 show, which featured a young Claudia discussing the art of flirting. Listeners were in for a treat as Vernon announced: "It's time to dive into the BBC Archive for our midweek trip into the vault. We're taking our second visit to the '90s in recent days." He continued, revealing Claudia's lesser-known past: "Back in 1996, Claudia Winkleman wasn't known as 'Claudia from Strictly', or 'Claudia from the Traitors', or 'National Treasure Claudia Winkleman'. No, no, no, no! For one of her first TV appearances, we saw a whole different side to our Claud. "Long before Morning Live was around, we had Good Morning with Anne and Nick on BBC One with Claudia introduced as a 'Chat up expert'. This is genius." After airing the segment where Claudia gave her take on flirtatious interactions, including a woman asking a man for a light and other cheeky chat-up lines, Vernon couldn't help but feign disgust. Reflecting on how times have changed, he remarked: "It's always difficult isn't it? These days it's all done on an app, which is kind of sad, takes the human element out of it, do you know what I mean? Just swiping. "There was an art to it, chatting to someone that you fancied. It was difficult, it was getting over that threshold of 'What can I say? What can I do?'." In recent chats, Vernon has taken a nostalgic trip recalling times gone by. Sharing with his audience, he spoke about his youngest daughter's GCSE revisions, sparking memories of his own school days. Vernon spoke about his and Tess' daughters Phoebe and Amber, revealing that the study period for 15-year-old Amber brought back sharp recollections. He jokingly admitted: "Got GCSEs on the they're here. We've started ours, we're up and running. Of course, it's stressful. I remember my I don't...I'm lying, it was so long ago - 1990 I did mine. I remember sitting there thinking, 'Gosh, I wish I'd revised'. I'm not remembering anymore, it's making me depressed." Vernon also shared his views on the pressures of academic assessments, commenting: "It's not the way education should be for me, more practical, playing out, hide and seek, I'd have got A+ in that. It's torturous for some kids, isn't it? If you've got who are going through GSCEs, just put your arm around them. "There's nothing else they can do. There's no point cramming. You can cram all you want in your revision, which we all did, let's be honest, but you've just got to hold their hand haven't you? Guide them along, make sure they're alright between their ears, in their noggin."
Edinburgh Live
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Vernon Kay admits 'stressful' time at home with Tess Daly and says 'there's nothing we can do'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Vernon Kay has candidly spoken about the "stressful" period he and his wife Tess Daly are experiencing at home, as their daughter Amber gears up for her GCSE exams. The Radio 2 host, aged 51, who shares two daughters with Strictly's Tess Daly, opened up on air about the family's current challenge. The couple are doting parents to Phoebe, 20, and 15 year old Amber. During his Wednesday morning show (May 7), Vernon responded to a listener's concern about getting their son to study for GCSEs by sharing that Amber is also in the midst of exam preparation. Vernon sympathised with students and parents alike, saying: "Got GCSEs on the they're here. We've started ours, we're up and running." He reflected on his own school days, jokingly admitting: "Of course, it's stressful. I remember my I don't...I'm lying, it was so long ago - 1990 I did mine. (Image: VernonKay Instagram) "I remember sitting there thinking, 'Gosh, I wish I'd revised'. I'm not remembering anymore, it's making me depressed." Vernon expressed his dislike for exams, confessing he was "rubbish" at them, reports the Manchester Evening News. He added: "It's not the way education should be for me, more practical, playing out, hide and seek, I'd have got A+ in that. "It's torturous for some kids, isn't it? If you've got who are going through GSCEs, just put your arm around them. "There's nothing else they can do. There's no point cramming. You can cram all you want in your revision, which we all did, let's be honest, but you've just got to hold their hand haven't you?". "Guide them along, make sure they're alright between their ears, in their noggin." (Image: tessdaly / Instagram) Tess Daly and Vernon Kay, both rising stars in the TV presenting world, found love despite working for rival networks. Vernon was a face on Channel 4's T4, while Tess graced ITV with her presence on SMTV. Despite their professional rivalry, it wasn't long before they were head over heels for each other. Tess, now 56, has often reminisced about how their spark was "immediate" and that life with Vernon was always fun-filled. The festive season of 2002 brought more than just Christmas cheer for Tess as Vernon proposed on Christmas Day at her parents' home. The couple then exchanged vows at St Mary's Church in Horwich, Vernon's birthplace, followed by a reception at Rivington Hall Barn. The newlyweds didn't wait long to start a family, with Tess giving birth to their first daughter, Phoebe, on October 17, 2004, in London. Their family joy doubled nearly five years later when their second daughter, Amber, arrived on May 30, 2009. A delighted Vernon shared with the Sunday Mirror: "She is absolutely beautiful and I am thrilled." In her book The Baby Diaries,Tess revealed her unique approach to childbirth preparations, which included not just breathing techniques but also a full makeover. She admitted: "Before Amber's I tried to remember my breathing techniques. But I did something else too. "I had my roots done and, wait for it, a pedicure! It might sound like madness, but I thought that while I might come out of it looking like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards, I certainly wasn't going in there looking that way."
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'I was 35 and didn't even know what MS was'
A woman who was told she had multiple sclerosis (MS) at 35 says she had never heard of the disease, even though it is most commonly diagnosed in young adults. Kate Dawson, from Ponteland, Northumberland, is now 49 and wants more people to be aware of the symptoms so they can get help earlier. The condition affects the brain and spinal code and can cause pain, mobility issues and fatigue. More than 150,000 people live with it in the UK, yet a new survey from the MS Society shows only one in five UK adults know it is most likely to be diagnosed in people in their 30s and 40s. The charity spoke to 2,000 people and also found only a third knew women were more likely to be diagnosed with MS than men, and that smoking and obesity increased a person's risk of developing it. Ms Dawson, a fitness instructor at the time, said she became aware something was wrong when running became more difficult. "I kept tripping over tree roots, my right leg would start dragging and I had to be aware of lifting it," she said She later discovered an earlier medical episode may have been an early symptom. "During my GSCEs, I lost the sight in one eye for a bit and I just thought it was stress, but they told my dad they couldn't diagnose it at that stage because you had to have multiple episodes. "It was horrible when I finally found out, I was in denial, I didn't want to tell people, I didn't even tell my mum, I didn't want to burden anyone else." Ms Dawson said her main symptoms now were fatigue, loss of balance and strength in her legs. "But I do a lot of cold water swimming and that seems to really help," Ms Dawson added. MS is the most common neurological condition among young adults and Sarah Rawlings from the MS said it could be "debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable". She added: "However greater understanding can make a huge difference and make conversations with family, friends and employers that little bit easier." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Scientists crack mystery of how MS gene spread 'My son's had more than 200 carers in five years' Hopes for multiple sclerosis drugs trial MS Society
BBC News
10-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Northumberland woman says MS diagnosis was 'complete shock'
A woman who was told she had multiple sclerosis (MS) at 35 says she had never heard of the disease, even though it is most commonly diagnosed in young adults. Kate Dawson, from Ponteland, Northumberland, is now 49 and wants more people to be aware of the symptoms so they can get help earlier. The condition affects the brain and spinal code and can cause pain, mobility issues and than 150,000 people live with it in the UK, yet a new survey from the MS Society shows only one in five UK adults know it is most likely to be diagnosed in people in their 30s and 40s. The charity spoke to 2,000 people and also found only a third knew women were more likely to be diagnosed with MS than men, and that smoking and obesity increased a person's risk of developing it. Ms Dawson, a fitness instructor at the time, said she became aware something was wrong when running became more difficult."I kept tripping over tree roots, my right leg would start dragging and I had to be aware of lifting it," she saidShe later discovered an earlier medical episode may have been an early symptom. "During my GSCEs, I lost the sight in one eye for a bit and I just thought it was stress, but they told my dad they couldn't diagnose it at that stage because you had to have multiple episodes."It was horrible when I finally found out, I was in denial, I didn't want to tell people, I didn't even tell my mum, I didn't want to burden anyone else." 'Greater understanding' Ms Dawson said her main symptoms now were fatigue, loss of balance and strength in her legs."But I do a lot of cold water swimming and that seems to really help," Ms Dawson is the most common neurological condition among young adults and Sarah Rawlings from the MS said it could be "debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable".She added: "However greater understanding can make a huge difference and make conversations with family, friends and employers that little bit easier." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
