TalkSPORT host Alan Brazil has released an emotional statement opening up about his recent health problems. The radio presenter has been absent from his spot on talkSPORT’s breakfast show for some time, with Brazil revealing he’s undergone ‘life-saving surgery’.
Brazil has hosted the show for over two-and-a-half decades, and has been part of the talkSPORT team since the station launched back in 2000. However, his absence has been noticed by regular talkSPORT listeners, with many having questioned Brazil’s whereabouts during his time away.
In a statement posted to social media, the former Ipswich and Scotland striker explained: “Hi Guys, I hope that everyone’s well. Some of you will have noticed that I’ve not been around. I recently had a life-saving operation and I’m deeply grateful to the brilliant medical team who have looked after me.
“It will be some time yet before I’m fully back to myself and for now I am focused on my recovery in private. Thank you to my family and those close to me who’ve been supporting me/ putting up with me! I’ll see you all soon.”
Brazil had originally taken ill during a talkSPORT show back in late January, with the Scot having been granted some time away from the microphone. Following the original absence, Brazil did return to presenting duties later in 2026, with the anchor claiming he’d received messages asking if he’d died, because he’d been away for so long.
Upon his initial return, Brazil said: “The big news this morning is I’m alive and kicking. I’ve never had so many texts and emails asking, ‘Are you all right? Are you dead? Are you dying?’ Give us a break. Honestly. It was my ears. I had a big infection in my right ear, and my left ear was blocked. I was sat here thinking I was going to fall off my chair.
“It’s the worst I have been, terrible. These lights (in the studio) don’t help. I have said to them to turn the lights down but do they listen? It’s stupid.”
Details surrounding the specifics of Brazil’s surgery aren’t currently known, but it’s expected he’ll continue to recover away from work in the meantime. Jeff Stelling and Shebahn Aherne have taken up the bulk of the presenting duties during Brazil’s absence, alongside regular breakfast show co-host, Gabriel Agbonlahor.