Alan Brazil was absent from his talkSPORT breakfast show for the third day of the Cheltenham Festival due to illness, the broadcaster has confirmed.
Brazil, 66, had a pre-agreed day off on Wednesday but was initially expected to be back hosting his show on Thursday from the festival.
When listeners tuned in to the show from 6am, Shebahn Aherne was instead standing in for the second consecutive day.
‘Surprise, you’re listening to talkSPORT Breakfast, it’s Shebahn Aherne in for Alan Brazil,’ Aherne began.
‘He needs a little bit more rest today, don’t we all?
‘But Alan will be back with you tomorrow morning, fit and firing for Gold Cup Day.’
Alan Brazil was absent from his talkSPORT breakfast show for the third day of the Cheltenham Festival due to illness
Shebahn Aherne stood in for Brazil, who she said is expected to return on Friday morning
talkSPORT later confirmed that Brazil was ‘a wee bit unwell’ and needed more time to recuperate.
Brazil is expected to return on Friday to host the breakfast show from Cheltenham alongside Arsenal legend Ray Parlour.
The former Scotland forward had previously had a spell off air in January due to illness.
Brazil has presented the Breakfast show since the radio station launched in 2000, cutting back his hours in 2020.
His relationship with Cheltenham Festival has been much discussed in recent years.
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.
The former Scotland player has presented the Breakfast show since the radio station launched
‘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.’
talkSPORT played into the intrigue around Brazil’s appearances at Cheltenham by launching a game ahead of this year’s festival, challenging gamers to help to ‘try to get Big Al to air’ for Gold Cup day.
