Vernon Kay tells Paddy McGuinness 'don't look at me' as he fights back tears

Vernon Kay couldn't hold back the tears during an emotional segment on Friday's (November 15) Children In Need as he told his chum Paddy McGuinness to keep his gaze away during a touching reunion.

The BBC spectacle saw presenters Mel Giedroyc, Rochelle Humes, Ade Adepitan, Vernon Kay, Lenny Rush, and Chris Ramsey boost spirits across the nation in the fundraising extravaganza.

Yet it was the poignant interaction between Vernon and Paddy which truly tugged at viewers' heartstrings. Paddy, who had just accomplished the daunting Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge, riding 300 miles from Wrexham AFC to Glasgow on a classic Raleigh Chopper, was met with both cheers and apologies upon his heartfelt return.

A visibly shaken Vernon faced Paddy, managing to say through tears: "Don't look at me. Don't look at me", reports .

He went on with emotion laden in his voice, detailing the supportive conversations they'd had: "We have spoken everyday and it started off the first two days Monday and Tuesday and we were giving it 'come on' and then Tuesday night you slowly started to fall off because you were exhausted but you were really getting some heartfelt messages and that's when it really started to sink in."

Paddy was visibly moved as he began, "Absolutely and once I went.." before Vernon Kay quickly interjected, "Don't look at me."

The BBC Radio 2 star then averted his gaze and carried on: "I think physically you can kind of deal with that, the pain you get over that but the emotional side of it, especially when you are interacting with people who are telling you about how they are involved with Children In Need."

In an emotional reveal, it emerged that Paddy, known for his stints on Top Gear and Question of Sport, collected over £8 million during his five-day trek on 'Patch', a customised bike from the 1970s designed for children.

Sir Chris Hoy, the esteemed Olympic icon grappling with terminal cancer in his private life, made a surprise visit to present Paddy with a massive cheque representing the funds raised.

Addressing McGuinness, Sir Chris said: "I've seen first hand the inspiration you have provided to the nation, young and old, who came out to cheer you on and it was quite incredible. Most importantly they donated."

Children in Need 2024 is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.