How Vernon Kay’s life changed forever at The Clothes Show

Reminiscing over a picture of himself and friend Simon Bimpson at The Clothes Show in 1996, Vernon, 51, opened up about the moment that “changed his life forever,”

The Clothes Show was a British fashion show that was broadcast on BBC One from 1986 to 1998, and from 2006 to 2009 on UKTV Style and Really.

“We went to the show on our way to see a friend of mine who had just moved from Bolton Wanderers to Aston Villa,” Vernon said.

“He wasn’t settling in and said, ‘look guys, come and visit me,’ so we did.”

That visit would prove pivotal for Vernon.

Stopping along the way at The Clothes Show, Vernon caught the eye of modelling agent James Noel from Select Model Management.

Vernon said his friends teased him relentlessly, but he “didn’t care”.

“This happened on a Friday, and then on the following Friday I moved to London.

“The Friday after that I moved all my stuff down and never went back home,” he said.

“The rest, as they say, is history.”

Vernon grew up in Horwich and attended St Joseph’s RC High School before spending two years at St John Rigby College in Orrell.

He reportedly had his first job at 14, putting stickers on imported bananas, and later worked cleaning schools across Bolton.

Vernon graduated in environmental science from Manchester Metropolitan University before fate intervened at The Clothes Show.

Fast forward to today, his new quiz airing tonight called Do You Know Your Place? sees Vernon challenging famous faces.

Paul Gorton from The Traitors acts as an unreliable tour guide, setting questions in towns and cities across the UK.

The contestants must decide what’s fact and what’s fiction while taking part in fun studio games along the way.

The celebrity with the most correct answers wins each episode, with an overall champion crowned at the end of the week.

The show airs tonight at 6.30pm. However, Vernon continues to dominate UK radio, attracting 6.7 million listeners each week.