Alan Brazil is unable to present his talkSPORT breakfast show for the second shift running, with the much-loved broadcaster missing Cheltenham Gold Cup day.
Brazil, 66, was expected back on duty having been absent on Thursday after feeling ‘unwell’ following a pre-agreed rest day on Wednesday.
But concerningly he has also missed Friday’s show from Cheltenham Festival – a month after he was off air sick.
On Thursday, stand-in presenter Shebahn Aherne had promised: ‘Alan will be back with you tomorrow morning, fit and firing for Gold Cup Day.’
That has not transpired, with Aherne stepping in for her Scottish compatriot once again.
Alan Brazil was absent from his talkSPORT breakfast show for the second day running, pictured here earlier in the week working from Cheltenham Festival
talkSPORT said ‘the big man is a wee bit unwell’ and needs time to recuperate.
Last week, talkSPORT launched a game entitled: ‘Play Project: Cheltenham now to get Alan on air!’
The theme behind it was navigating various obstacles at the Festival, playing as Brazil, to get to his show on time.
Brazil himself posted the amusing clip on his Instagram page.
The former Scotland forward had previously had a spell off air in January due to illness.
At the time his broadcasting colleague and former England international Ray Parlour said: ‘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.
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.
‘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.
