BBC Breakfast’s Jon Kay has candidly shared his concerns about eyesight, admitting he feared “something was wrong”.
The 54 year old presenter returned to the iconic red sofa on Wednesday, joining co-host Sally Nugent to delve into the day’s top stories. Amid their review of the morning papers, Jon came across an article that piqued his interest.
Sourced from the Guardian, Jon relayed findings that suggest a significant number of children globally may be struggling with their vision. He revealed: “There is a university in China which has done research in countries all around the world, thousands of kids involved and it says they think one in three children are short-sighted and they think it’s because we’re spending too much time on our screens!”
Sally, clearly surprised by the study’s implications, exclaimed: “On our phones! Of course”.
Jon elaborated on the issue, linking increased screen time to the pandemic when children were homebound. “It was heightened by the pandemic when kids had to work from home, spending more time on their phones, more time away from their friends, not socialising. Just on their devices all the time,” reports the Express.
Agreeing with the findings, Jon admitted that his own eyesight has suffered due to excessive screen use. He confessed: “And I have to say, probably the same!” Sally chuckled and playfully referred to him as: “Do you agree? Dr Jon Kay.”
He replied, sharing his personal experience: “Yeah I have! I keep thinking I need a much bigger phone, there’s something wrong with my phone but it’s true isn’t it?” Curious, Sally queried whether Jon had resorted to using “bigger text” on his device. Jon acknowledged: “Every year I go up and up.”
Jon, who is bespectacled himself, gestured towards Sally’s glasses and she concurred: “We all need them, don’t we!”
In a previous confession, Jon revealed that he relies on Sally to steer him right in the wardrobe department due to his uncertainty about which colours suit the TV screen. He explained to The Mirror: “In the morning I’ll be like, ‘Sal, does this tie go?’ And she goes, ‘Ah, no.’ She guides me. She’s like my carer.”
Additionally, the TV anchor opened up about his morning habits, admitting: “I drink a ludicrous amount of coffee every morning. I have one when I get in about a quarter to five. And we have our meeting, and then I’ll have another one before we go on air, and then have four or five more during the programme.”
Jon is typically seen co-hosting the morning show with Sally from Monday through Wednesday.