Tuesday, October 6, 2026 - BBC Radio 4 presenter Justin Webb was taken off air during Tuesday morning's Today programme after struggling with his voice.
The 65-year-old presenter repeatedly coughed, apologised to listeners and appeared to have difficulty finishing some sentences while presenting alongside Anna Foster. Foster later said Webb was “struggling a bit with his throat” and that the programme would continue without him.
Webb initially remained on air despite the symptoms, reading headlines and introducing segments before his voice became increasingly strained. At around 6:40 a.m., journalist Jonny Dymond joined Foster to continue presenting the programme.
Dymond joked that Webb had the “conference lurgi,” referring to the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, where Webb was reporting. The BBC has been contacted for comment about the incident.
The brief on-air change quickly attracted attention because Today is one of BBC Radio 4's flagship news programmes and Webb is one of its long-serving presenters.
For now, there is no indication of a more serious issue, and the available reports only describe problems with his throat and voice. Listeners will be watching for further updates on whether Webb returns to the programme as scheduled.
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