Trevor Nelson takes break from BBC radio due to health issues

Trevor Nelson will take "a little break" from all work as he deals with health issues, telling his Instagram followers he was on doctor’s orders and "concentrating on getting better". The 62-year-old BBC DJ and presenter had already been off air this week after undergoing tests.

Nelson’s absence affects two regular BBC slots. He usually presents weekdays from 2pm to 4pm on BBC Radio 2 and also hosts BBC Radio 1Xtra every Sunday from 11am to 1pm. He did not disclose the nature of his diagnosis, keeping the details of his condition private while confirming that he was stepping back from work commitments.

He said he wanted to get "back behind the mic and the decks" once he had recovered. Nelson has championed R&B, soul and hip-hop on BBC radio.

Earlier in 2026, Nelson’s 30 years at the BBC were marked on air with tributes from across music, broadcasting and television. His temporary withdrawal leaves a gap in BBC Radio 2’s weekday 2pm to 4pm slot and BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Sunday 11am to 1pm slot. He said the focus now is recovery before any return to broadcasting.