Football-favourite Alan Brazil almost lost his job for dozing off after Cheltenham bender
Mike Parry and Alan Brazil formed a memorable partnership hosting talkSPORT's iconic breakfast show during its formative years, but the latter's love for a drink almost cost him his job
TalkSPORT favourite Alan Brazil was once axed for missing a show after a Cheltenham bender.
The 64-year-old has become synonymous with talkSPORT’s Breakfast Show, which he has hosted since 2000. During that time, a running joke has been Brazil’s apathy for early wake-ups and knack for getting in five minutes before the show starts.
Long-time co-presenter Mike ‘Porky’ Parry, who first recruited him for the show, revealed to the Daily Record that Brazil had only missed around four shows as of 2020. But one occasion where the former Scotland striker enjoyed Cheltenham Festival a little too much stands out above all others.
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Brazil took to the races in 2004, where pints of Guinness flowed until the early hours of the morning. The radio host overslept and missed his show, before ripping into the hotel porter for not waking him up at 3.30am.
He then discovered he did not actually get into bed until 3.50am - and he was axed from the show. Luckily for his fans, he was reinstated just three weeks later.
Former co-presenter Parry said: “It was his unpredictability that is part of his attraction. I had to wear two hats all the time and couldn’t start laying down the law to Alan Brazil if I had to sit next to him for four hours because the chemistry has to flow between us.
“I had to take a very light touch on anything disciplinary and Al was a bit more free and easy in those days but incidents like the Cheltenham one haven’t happened for a good 15 years.”
Brazil in recent years has repeatedly gone viral for his hilarious drinking antics with Arsenal legend and talkSPORT favourite Ray Parlour. But Parry insisted he has never actually seen Brazil drunk, claiming he is a “social drinker”.
The veteran journalist said: “He’s not a speed drinker. He doesn’t go in and drink four large gin and tonics in an hour. Al is a social imbiber who loves nothing more than being with his mates, getting through a few bottles of wine and telling and listening to stories and the drink is just a by-product of that atmosphere. But I pity anyone who tries to keep up with him.”