Vernon Kay’s mid-morning slot on BBC Radio 2 has been hailed as a success after he dedicated the show to his listeners.

The Bolton-born broadcaster has replaced veteran Ken Bruce, 72, who helmed the mid-morning weekday programme for 31 years.

Vernon's show got off to a smooth start today and he breezed through his Ten To The Top music quiz.

He opened his debut show by saying: “Right then, here we go – the adventure, let it begin.

“Good morning, everyone. Welcome on board.

“Let’s do this.”

Vernon’s first song was Beautiful Day by Irish rockers U2, which he said was “tried and tested” on his two daughters, Phoebe and Amber.

He promised that his new show will not be “London-centric” and said that the show is for his listeners.

He said: “So much noise in the build up to this show, as to be expected, but we are here now, we are in the chair and the microphone is working and that is all that matters.

“It’s a beautiful day here in central London and I do honestly, hand on heart, hope it’s a wonderful day wherever you are in the UK.

“That is one thing we are not going to be on this show; we are not going to be London-centric.

“This show is for you.

“It’s not all about what is going on in the capital.

“Oh no. Trust me, it’s about what is going on in your world.”

Ahead of his first show, Kay appeared on BBC Breakfast, promising it would be “more of the same”.

Many fans took to social media to share their support for Vernon, with one fan saying that they switched to a local station and were “loving it”.

Some well-known Bolton celebrities also showed their support for Vernon during his new show.

He received messages from Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt, Radio 2 and 6 Music DJ, Mark Radcliffe, Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox, and BBC journalist Clive Myrie.

Sara joked that subtitles would be needed for her message, speaking with local references.

She said: “Ey up Vernon, you alright lad?

“I were right chuffed, go to the foot of our stairs.

"I couldn’t believe it when I heard you were coming to Radio 2 full time, proper like, well chuffed.

“Mate, welcome, the Bolton takeover continues.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled that we’re going to be having you mid-morning on Radio 2. “As you know, best listeners in the world here, and they absolutely love you already.

“So, welcome my friend.”

Vernon said that it meant “a lot” and gave Bolton a shoutout, saying it’s a “good old town”, and that it sums up what Bolton is about: “all for one and one for all”.

Vernon’s show is due to run from 9.30am to 12pm every weekday and will feature the daily music quiz Ten To The Top, Tracks Of My Years, the Record and Album Of The Week, and performances from the Radio 2 Piano Room.

He is expected to have an "unforgettable" start to his new role with two new Piano Room sessions scheduled for his first few weeks.

One with Def Leppard on May 18 and another with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds on June 1.

Ken announced he was leaving the BBC in January and moved to Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio in April to present a new mid-morning show from 10am to 1pm.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.