Emotional DJ Spoony thanks NHS after Christmas stay for brain bleed operation

DJ Spoony has tearfully thanked the NHS and his family after being treated in hospital for a “small bleed to the brain”.

The BBC Radio 2 presenter, 54, whose real name is Johnathan Joseph, told listeners on Monday that he had been dealing with headaches for a few weeks but had put “off” being seen by a doctor until December 21, when he decided to go to A&E.

He said: “They (the doctors at Bedford Hospital) did some tests and said they were going to give me a little (CT) scan, and then he came back with the scan results, and he said: ‘Look, it looks like you have a small bleed to the brain, and we need to send you over to Addenbrooke’s (Hospital in Cambridge), the specialist there has seen it’.”

Spoony said he was then told the doctors “need to operate”, and he had to be admitted to hospital and he was not able to eat for more than 10 hours.

He added: “The amazing doctors and nurses at Addenbrooke’s had done the operation, (they) had flushed me out. I was feeling fine, 10 minutes after the operation. I was talking looking forward to being back on the ward, eating a banana and having a ginger shot.

“That’s all I could think about, because I’d been nil by mouth for about 14 hours, got back onto the ward, and I was just fine. So again (to) our amazing National Health Service.”

Breaking down emotionally, he added: “Thank you to everybody at Addenbrooke’s for looking after me, you were amazing… to all my family and friends, and to everybody that really (was there for me)… (I) just couldn’t wait to get back in the studio and do what I love doing.

“I really thought I’d be able to handle that without getting emotional.”

He then played, Sounds Of Blackness’ Hold On (Change Is Comin’), which he called “appropriate”.

On his Instagram, he said it was a subdural hematoma, a condition where there is bleeding in the brain, and said he spent Christmas Day morning in hospital.

Spoony also wrote: “I was so grateful. (I) had something special to look forward to. Going home to my family and friends. All who had been incredible for the last few days. The visits, support, calls, messages. (It’s) very humbling.

“There was however some sadness waking up near to some people that didn’t know where they were, that would’ve spent a large part, if not all, of the day without loved ones. I think about them all every day and hope they are making progress in their recovery.”

In 2022, he was recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to charity through music during the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, DJ Spoony hosted regular live streams, eventually several times a week, using his equipment at home to play a variety of music to help people “connect” and raise money for charity.