Trevor Nelson has revealed he is taking a break from his BBC Radio 2 show to undergo “further tests after a routine check-up”.
He usually presents weekdays 2 to 4pm on Radio 2, and BBC Radio 1Xtra each Sunday from 11am to 1pm.
The broadcaster, 62, announced that he is stepping back in an emotional Instagram post on Friday, telling fans he is “concentrating on getting better”.
“I wanted to let my followers, radio listeners and all my Soul Nation party-people know that I'm going to be taking a little break from my work commitments,” Nelson wrote.
“Some of you may already have noticed that I've not been on my daily Radio 2 slot this week.
“After a routine check-up I was advised to have some follow up tests. As a result, I will be taking some further time off. As I'm sure you can appreciate with health issues it's important to deal with facts and not speculate.”
He concluded: “So I'm concentrating on getting better, being back to 100% me and to getting back behind the mic and the decks. Trevor.”
Nelson’s colleagues offered their well-wishes in the comments, with Melvin Odoom writing, “Sending love and positive vibes Trev,” and Anita Rani posting: “Sending love. Rest and heal Trevor. X.”
Stormzy and Alesha Dixon sent three love hearts, while Romesh Ranganathan said, “Love legend,” and Jools Holland wrote: “Get well soon.”
The BC Radio 2 social media account also added: “Sending so much love from the Radio 2 family.”
The BBC's director of music, Lorna Clarke said in a statement: "Everyone at BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 1 XTra wishes Trevor a very speedy recovery and we all look forward to him returning to his shows whenever he is ready."
Earlier this week Nelson was at the Television and Radio Industries Club (Tric) Awards, where he won the Judge’s Special Recognition Award.
Listeners can hear him present The Music Is Black concert from Hackney Empire on Sunday night on BBC Radio 2, which was pre-recorded last month.
The event was a celebration of black music in Britain featuring performances from Alison Limerick, Courtney Pine and Omar amongst others.
He also co-presents the show with fellow Radio 2 DJ, DJ Spoony.
In February, Nelson celebrated 30 years at the BBC - including on 1 Xtra - where he has championed R'n'B music in the UK.
A slew of celebrities congratulated the DJ on the milestone moment, including Alicia Keys, Lemar, Eve, Jessie J, Nile Rodgers, Craig David, Sade, Jessie Ware and Stephen Graham, with Sir Lenny Henry performing Happy Birthday as part of the celebrations.
Nile Rodgers thanked Nelson for his long-running support at the BBC, while Sade described him as an inspiration who had “gone the distance”.
Nelson’s career at the BBC began when he moved from KISS FM to Radio 1 in 1996, presenting the UK's first national R&B show.
He went on to launch the first ever national R&B chart show and also worked on BBC Radio 1Xtra from 2007 onwards and took on a Radio 2 weekly soul music slot in 2008.
The radio icon stayed at Radio 1 until 2013.
In January 2019, Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation launched on Radio 2 and aired four days a week, before he moved to the weekday afternoon show in 2025, replacing Scott Mills.
Discussing his three-decade career, he recently said: "I love going to work, I bounce around the eighth floor like a child.
“You’d never think I was a senior in that environment. I’m actually the oldest on daytime. So, I’m the daddy!”
