Trevor Nelson, 62, has returned to his BBC Radio 2 slot for the first time since undergoing "very serious surgery" for a brain tumor. The broadcaster presented his two-hour show on Monday afternoon, reflecting on what he described as an "emotional and difficult summer."
Nelson had announced in June that he would extend his break from Radio 2 to focus on his health, initially without providing specific details. In a subsequent update last month, he revealed his diagnosis with a brain tumor and the subsequent surgery.
"I'm so happy to be here. Back with my colleagues. It is like a family," Nelson said upon his return to the airwaves. "It feels like I've been away and come back." He likened his summer absence to being "hijacked" and "freed" after a ransom was paid.
He credited his recovery to the support of close friends, family, his wife, and notably, his listeners. "All the love has been overwhelming," Nelson stated. "In my darkest moments it really did help me through. People say this and sometimes I'm like 'does it really help?' Oh, it does. When people hear about you and want you back."
Nelson shared that returning to the airwaves on Monday had been a target date for his recovery. "I was bugging my doctor saying 'can I get back? Do you reckon it will be too soon?' But I've made it back. It's great being back broadcasting to you guys," he added.
He plans to stagger his return, with further shows scheduled for Wednesday and an aim to present more frequently next week. Nelson kicked off his first show back with John Sebastian's "Welcome Back" and Stevie Wonder's "(Uptight) Everything's Alright," stating he "feel[s] that way, everything's alright."
Nelson also expressed how much he missed his work, stating, "I've missed sitting in this seat. Sitting in this studio, being on the eighth floor of BBC Broadcasting House. The best radio station in the world. I've missed you most of all, boy have I missed you guys."
Last month, Nelson shared details of his health battle in an Instagram video, addressing speculation about his absence. "Due to the love and the positive vibes, thousands of you have been sending me, I felt that I should at least tell you what is wrong with me and what happened to me," he explained. He revealed the shock of his brain tumor diagnosis and the "very serious surgery" that followed, confirming the procedure went well and that he has spent the past month in recovery and post-operative treatment.
"I feel great right now, I feel ready to come back. I feel energised and almost back to myself," Nelson told fans. "I've had a really serious situation but I've come out the other side and I feel great. I feel raring to go. I feel in good health."
Previously, Nelson had taken a break from his work commitments in June, initially citing a need for further tests after a routine check-up. At the time, friends expressed confidence in his eventual return to presenting and noted he was still planning his year-end schedule, including Christmas events.
Nelson's career, which spans decades on radio and as a DJ, had led to some speculation about his future following his health announcement. He had previously mentioned at the Television and Radio Industries Club (TRIC) Awards, where he received a special award, that he was unsure "how many more years" he could continue in radio after 40 years on air. However, close sources at the time indicated a confident prospect of return after a couple of months. He is expected to resume his DJ gigs later, following his return to radio.