Alan Brazil, 66, missed his talkSPORT Breakfast show for the third consecutive day at the Cheltenham Festival after falling ill.
Brazil took a scheduled day off on Wednesday but planned to return Thursday from the event. Instead, listeners heard Shebahn Aherne hosting from 6am for the second day in a row.
Stand-in Host Addresses Absence
Aherne opened the broadcast by saying: “Surprise, you’re listening to talkSPORT Breakfast, it’s Shebahn Aherne in for Alan Brazil. 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.”
talkSPORT later confirmed Brazil felt “a wee bit unwell” and required additional recovery time. He is set to rejoin the show Friday alongside Arsenal legend Ray Parlour.
Brazil’s Long Tenure and Past Health Issues
The former Scotland forward has hosted the Breakfast show since talkSPORT launched in 2000, reducing his hours in 2020. He stepped away briefly in January due to illness.
History with Cheltenham Festival
Brazil’s connection to the festival draws attention. In 2004, he lost his job temporarily after skipping a show following a day at Cheltenham but returned shortly after.
Five years ago, he underwent heart surgery and shared: “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.”
Last year, Brazil dismissed rumors of overindulgence, explaining: “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… 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.”
Ahead of this year’s festival, talkSPORT introduced a game challenging players to “try to get Big Al to air” for Gold Cup Day, nodding to the ongoing intrigue.
