BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Bob Harris has revealed that he will take a break from presenting his country show after suffering from an aortic dissection.
The DJ, who is known to fans as Whispering Bob, said that he “will be unable to broadcast on the Radio 2 Country Show” after sustaining the “extremely serious” rupture while out walking
“I am sorry to say that I will be unable to broadcast on the Radio 2 Country Show for the next few weeks,” he wrote in a statement shared on his official Twitter account.
“Ten days ago, while out walking, I suffered a tear to my aorta known as an aortic dissection. The aorta is basically the M1 of the body and any damage is regarded as extremely serious.”
The presenter credited his habit of walking five miles a day with helping to “save [his] life and said that he was “massively indebted” to the ambulance crew and staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
He also thanked his wife Trudie and his “wonderful family” who have “rallied around [him] with huge love and support.”
“I am not exactly sure when I will be on air again but I am on the road to recovery now and will be back playing music for you on Radio 2 as soon as possible,” he concluded.
An aortic dissection occurs when the wall of the aorta splits and forms an additional false blood vessel, according to the British Heart Foundation.
Radio 2 head Lewis Carnie wished Harris “a very speedy recovery” on behalf of the broadcaster and its “ millions of listeners,” adding that the channel “look[s] forward to welcoming him back to Wogan House when he’s ready.”
The Country Show with Bob Harris airs on Thursdays between 9pm and 10pm. The BBC has confirmed that Paul Sexton is set to present the new two editions of the show.
The 73-year-old also presented iconic BBC music series The Old Grey Whistle Test from 1972 and 1978 and was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to music broadcasting.
