Alan Brazil, 66, is forced to miss his TalkSPORT show again after being taken ill – as his replacement reveals exactly what’s wrong with presenter

Alan Brazil has missed his presenting duties on talkSPORT for a second day after falling ill – but stand-in host Shebahn Aherne insists the former Scotland international is ‘doing well’ after ‘taking the dizzies’.

The popular broadcaster, 66, sparked concern when he failed to return to his presenting duties alongside Gabriel Agbonlahor after a break during the show on Thursday. 

Former Aston Villa forward Agbonlahor said Brazil had been ‘feeling a bit poorly’ after taking to the microphones for their 6am slot, with Katie Shanahan drafted in for the rest of the show.

Many listeners had hoped to have Brazil back in the hot-seat on Friday morning, but it was Aherne who was fronting the show alongside Arsenal legend Ray Parlour.

Opening the programme, she said: ‘Poor Al, he took the dizzies yesterday,’ to which Parlour joked: ‘Too many bourbons, I heard!’

Aherne replied: ‘Yeah, too much sugar! Is it true that he spent the rest of the show – while Katie did the show – lying on the couch? Apparently he did.’ 

Former England international Parlour added: ‘I hope he’s alright, Alan. He was getting dizzy last week when I was here. The lights are making him go dizzy, so if we go dizzy later and say “oh we don’t feel too good” then turn the lights down for god’s sake.’ 

Aherne then reassured listeners Brazil was recovering, saying: ‘We are sending our love to Al, he is absolutely fine, he’s doing well.’

Brazil has presented the Breakfast show since the radio station launched in 2000, cutting back his hours in 2020 and now primarily hosts on Thursdays and Fridays.

In 2004 he was famously dismissed from the station after failing to turn up for his show following a day out at the Cheltenham Festival, but was back on air soon after.

Five years ago he was forced to take a break while he had a heart operation and said before his return: ‘I had a little problem, whether it was Covid related or, I don’t know, fast living catching up with me, but I ended up in a couple of hospitals. I had a little sort out in the old ticker but I’m pleased to say I’m on the mend.’

In 2024 he laughed off suggestions that overindulging at the Cheltenham Festival had caused him to miss another show, saying: ‘There was no massive drinks bender. I was just tired after coming down here on Sunday. It’s been a long week. Also my knee is playing up after a lot of walking about. There’s a lot of walking about needs done here with so many people to meet.

‘It’s not Covid or anything. I just meet so many people in this job – especially here at Cheltenham. So I just got a bug that’s all and it just wears you down for this which is a long week.

‘So the bottom line is that I am fine – I’m really good. Tales that I was drinking too much yesterday are just a load of nonsense, a load of nonsense, a load of nonsense. It’s got nothing to do with booze. I just had a few pints of Guinness yesterday with some great company. I’m fine, apart from this limp.

‘It’s not bad publicity. I missed a day and it is my fault. I don’t have to say sorry to the bosses. I’m not saying I’m too big for that (saying sorry). I’m not too big to say sorry to the bosses.’

Later that year he had to make an early exit from a special live broadcast of the show in Suffolk on his birthday due to what a talkSPORT colleague described as a ’48hr virus’.

The former forward started his football career at Ipswich Town in 1976 and later had spells at Tottenham and Manchester United in the 1980s. He won 13 caps for Scotland – representing them at the 1982 World Cup in Spain – but struggled with back issues towards the end of his career.

talkSPORT said in a statement on Thursday: ‘Alan Brazil was feeling unwell during today’s talkSPORT Breakfast show and came off air after 8am. Gabby Agbonlahor and Katie Shanahan presented the remainder of the programme.

‘Alan is doing OK, and will be back on talkSPORT shortly. We wish him a speedy recovery.’