ONE of TV's top presenters returned to school and received a grilling from a group of very inquisitive pupils.

Vernon Kay, presenter of Channel 4's live Sunday show, T4, paid a visit to St Mary's RC Primary School in Horwich -- he was a pupil there 17 years ago -- to take part in a question and answer session with the present pupils.

As the children filed into the school hall, Vernon, aged 28, from Lostock, said: "It's great being back.

"It's so weird how everything seems that much smaller -- when I was a pupil I remember thinking the climbing ropes in the sports hall were enormous. They look really tiny now."

Headteacher Alan Macphearson said: "Vernon really hasn't changed all that much.

"Of course he's a bit taller now, but take away his long hair cut and it's still the same face. I'm not surprised he's done so well, he was always an engaging boy."

The pupils had obviously thought long and hard about what they wanted to ask Vernon and the questions were funny, clever, serious -- even slightly probing.

For each little hand raised, Vernon answered their questions carefully and thoughtfully.

He spoke about football, school, fame and television. However, the one revelation that drew gasps of admiration form the gathered children was when he told them he had spent an hour with Britney Spears.

"She was very nice," he said, "and we talked about everything."

And to the pupils of his former school, this really meant old boy Vernon Kay had really hit the big time.

VERNON QUIZZED

SOME of the questions Vernon was asked:

Q: What's it like being on TV?

A: Well, it's a bit like standing in front of the school at assembly and reading a poem or a prayer out to the whole school. A bit scary and you get nervous.

Q: Who's your favourite footballer?

A: Kevin Nolan, Wanderer's brilliant midfielder.

Q: Do you read from a script on your TV show?

A: We get a 58-page script on a Friday and I spend all Saturday reading through it at home and putting it into my own words.

Q: Which TV programme would you like to work on?

A: I'd love my own chat show, maybe in a couple of years time.

Q: Are you looking forward to the World Cup?

A: Yes, definitely. I interviewed Michael Owen and he told me if England win their first game then we have a good chance of getting through to the later stages.