Vernon Kay's Strictly distraction behind Tess Daly's back explained after his telling off

Vernon Kay has explained his on-air antics after he was spotted pulling faces behind wife Tess Daly on Strictly Come Dancing last weekend. While discussing the episode with his BBC Radio 2 show co-host Zoe Ball, he shared that his distraction was met with a telling off from Tess.

In response, Zoe said: "I thought you did brilliantly, because you were like, 'the camera is on me... smile'."

Vernon light-heartedly defended himself, adding, "It shows I was listening," and went on to reveal that Tess had given him a playful warning to "behave yourself".

Further elaborating on his actions the following day, Vernon clarified to a listener: "I wasn't pulling faces. Technically, I was pulling faces, but I was reacting to what Tess was saying because, you know, we get a lot of facts and stats when she's introducing the next act on Strictly.

"So I was like, 'Ooh, oh yeah, ooh really, ooh, get you'. Someone did message me on one of the social media outlets saying it looked like I had fleas, like the way I was wiggling in my chair," reports Lancs Live.

In an exclusive chat with Reach PLC, Vernon shared that he was supporting contestants Pete Wicks and Paul Merson this series.

"This is a game-changer for Pete Wicks because he's got that kind of nonchalant look, that lovely kind of straight approach to stuff and he doesn't suffer fools," he divulged.

"I think we're seeing a real side to him that we didn't think he'd have, you know really humble, really down-to-earth, really approachable and I think he will come across a really nice fella and he's rather good looking."

Before Toyah Willcox's exit last weekend, he added that he hoped she and Paul would also go far in the competition as they "make Strictly what it is".

Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 6.20pm on BBC One.