Vernon Kay paid emotional tribute to Trevor Nelson after his BBC Radio 2 colleague announced he is stepping back from his show over health issues.
Nelson, 62, explained that he is taking a break from his weekday afternoon slot to undergo further medical tests after a “routine check-up”.
The broadcaster said he is “concentrating on getting better” and pleaded with fans not to “speculate” over the specific health issue, which he did not disclose.
Kay, 52, sent “all his love” to Nelson - who usually presents weekdays 2 to 4pm on Radio 2 - on his morning show soon after his friend’s announcement.
“Everyone at BBC Radio 2, including the mid-morning show are sending Trevor all the very very best wishes, we absolutely love him to bits,” he said.
“He’s a stalwart broadcaster within the UK - I played golf with him a couple of weeks ago and he was in a buoyant mood.”
Kay went on: “And I know that this challenge is something that Trevor is gonna face head on. So Trevor we are sending you all our love and hopefully see you on the links very soon my friend.”
On Friday morning, Nelson announced on Instagram: “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 BBC 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."
Nelson’s post comes just days after he picked up the Judge’s Special Recognition Award at the Television and Radio Industries Club (Tric) Awards on Tuesday.
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.
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.
In January 2019, he launched Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation on Radio 2 four days a week, before replacing Scott Mills on the weekday afternoon show in 2025.
