Vernon Kay stops BBC Radio 2 show to announce the unexpected death of his colleague

Vernon Kay stopped his BBC Radio 2 show on Tuesday morning as he paid tribute to his colleague who died. 

The presenter, 51, finished playing a track when he revealed that the network's station manager, Ian Deeley, had died unexpectedly at the age of 45. The cause of death is not known. 

Vernon said: 'As you can imagine at Radio 2, it's not just the names in the Radio Times who do all the work. 

'We do very little, we just talk when we put up the fader, I'll be honest with you, myself and every on-air name included. It's the massive team behind Radio 2 that make this network so successful.

'And the BBC family were devastated to hear that our brilliant studio manager, Ian Deeley, had died unexpectedly but peacefully at the age of 45.'

Vernon noted about Ian's passion for radio, saying he loved it with 'every fibre of his being' and noted he had worked on most BBC radio stations.  

He said: 'Even though he was a relatively young chap, Ian had a long and illustrious career, during which he pretty much worked on every BBC radio station. 

'His time at the BBC started with news shifts followed by production work and more recently, Ian was working with our colleagues on the outside broadcast team, or "the Broadside Outcasts" as he jokingly called them.'

'With the OB team, Ian worked on all manner of big radio stuff, including pop festivals, BBC Proms and numerous royal events.

'The one that stands out for us and our little team is the one where Ian personally made sure that our show from the beaches of Normandy a few years ago went seamlessly – and it did. 

'Ian was our lead engineer on our D-Day [80th] celebrations and he was so dedicated that he went on a [reconnaissance trip] over to France in his own time, just to make sure everything was up to his incredible high standard.'   

Vernon added: 'Ian loved working with us here at Radio 2 and I know one of his career highlights was working with our friend, Steve Wright, he was thrilled to be able to be a part of the big show and as "one of the top operatives" as Steve called him. Steve always said, "Ian, keep it cranked" and he did.

'He was passionate about sharing that with others, he was so good in fact, he was voted to lead his local sailing club. 

'As an engineer, there were few better but there are also so many things we can say about Ian, the person.

'He was an exuberant, larger-than-life character who was always enthusiastic and brought a smile to everyone's faces,' Vernon said, adding that he and his colleagues will miss the studio manager's 'quick wit'.

'We offer our sincere condolences to his mum Di, his brother Neal and his partner Lucy.' 

Later in the show, Vernon thanked his listeners for sending in words of condolence over Ian's death.