Justin Webb taken off BBC Radio 4’s Today after throat symptoms during live broadcast

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page A BBC radio presenter was taken off air after he appeared to struggle with his throat live on air. Listeners were left perplexed when BBC Radio 4’s familiar voice on the Today programme, Justin Webb, began struggling with his throat. Webb, 65, sounded strained and under the weather as he introduced the day’s biggest headlines. After co-presenter Anna Foster introduced the show, Webb soon said ‘excuse me’ as he scratched and cleared his throat. But he managed to continue presenting, talking briefly about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s legal case against the police. He then got some respite as Foster was on the microphone for several seconds. Justin Webb sounded under the weather during BBC Radio 4’s Today programme (Picture: BBC) She read out headlines about typical coffee drinking habits before joking that Webb might need ‘something a little more warming than that this morning,’ which prompted a laugh from the pair. Webb managed to push on to introduce Simon King’s weather forecast and later to discuss the Daily Mirror headlines and ask BBC News journalist Simon Atkinson questions on Open AI’s breach of Australian government websites earlier this year. As the clock hit 6.40am, Foster revealed that Webb, who was at the Conservative party conference, would be taking a small break to save him for his duties there. She said: ‘It is 20 to seven now. Jonny Dymond is here, good morning. ‘Important to say, if you’ve heard Justin’s voice this morning, he’s at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. ‘He’s struggling a bit with his throat, so we’re saving him. We’re saving him for that. And Johnny, you’re here with me to continue with everything. ‘And, Jonny, you’re here with me to continue with everything.’ Dymond, BBC’s royal correspondent, replied: ‘Poor man has the conference lurgi that sweeps around these places every year.’ Millions of listeners have become used to hearing Webb’s voice as part of their morning routine. The dad-of-three presented BBC One’s Breakfast News before moving to co-host Today in August 2009. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

A BBC Radio 4 presenter has been rushed off air after falling ill while presenting his show on Tuesday morning. Justin Webb, the long-standing presenter of Radio 4’s Today, opened the programme alongside Anna Foster on Tuesday at 6am. Webb, 65, whose voice sounded strained, apologised a few times as he coughed on air and struggled to finish some sentences. After Foster introduced the programme, Webb read the headlines and said “excuse me” within seconds as he scratched his throat. He spoke again a few minutes later to introduce Simon King’s weather forecast and later to discuss the Daily Mirror headlines and ask BBC News journalist Simon Atkinson questions on Open AI’s breach of Australian government websites earlier this year. At 6.40am, Foster said: “It is 20 to seven now. Jonny Dymond is here, good morning. Important to say, if you’ve heard Justin’s voice this morning, he’s at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham. “He’s struggling a bit with his throat, so we’re saving him … we’re saving him for that. And, Jonny, you’re here with me to continue with everything.” BBC journalist Dymond replied: “Poor man has the conference lurgi that sweeps around these places every year. But, yes, it is 20 to seven.” Dymond then proceeded to present the programme with Foster. The BBC has been contacted for comment.