Ray Hadley returns to 2GB radio after health scare

Ray Hadley insists he is firing on five cylinders after rushing out of his studio half an hour early yesterday to visit a doctor.

Radio broadcaster Ray Hadley is back behind the microphone after a dash to see his specialist following an on-air health scare during Monday’s program.

The 66-year-old left half an hour early after speaking to his doctor during a newsbreak.

He told fellow 2GB host Ben Fordham this morning he should have followed the medical advice.

“You and I talk about men’s health and older blokes don’t take advice and younger blokes don’t wake advice and I’m now guilty. The doctor told me to do certain things after surgery last Tuesday,” he said.

“One of them was to have the rest of the week off which I didn’t do and the other was take it easy which I find hard to do.

“I hit the wall about 9am yesterday and was struggling for a few hours and he had surgery in the afternoon so he couldn’t see me then so he said get yourself over here by midday.”

Ray Hadley Picture: Tim Hunter.

In a statement to The Daily Telegraph, Hadley, 66, said he’s on the mend after suffering side effects from a procedure he underwent for an existing condition.

“Last Tuesday I underwent a routine medical procedure for an existing condition,” he said.

“During the program this morning I suffered a number of side effects without warning.

Following a conversation with my specialist in a commercial break, I went straight into see him.

“My thanks to Deb Knight who jumped straight into the chair in my absence. After consulting my doctor, he’s upped my pain relief and I’m back home resting. The good news is I’ll be on deck tomorrow morning ahead of a much anticipated Christmas break from this Friday.

Thank you for all your notes of concern.”

Hadley left the studio around 11.25am, about half an hour earlier than his show was expected to finish, telling listeners he had to go after speaking to a specialist on the phone.

“I’ve never done this before but as I told you last week I had a procedure done last Tuesday and I’ve been struggling ever since,” he told his 2GB audience.

2GB radio host Ray Hadley. Picture: Darren England

“I had a discussion with my specialist during a newsbreak and he wanted me to come back in and see him immediately. I was hoping I could go for the next 35 minutes but I can’t.

“Deborah Knight has very kindly offered to assist me and she’s in the studio right now.”

Hadley previously battled bouts of diverticulitis and was hospitalised last year.

The condition, where small pockets in the wall of the bowel become infected or inflamed, can attack at random. If it is not treated immediately the infection can easily spread.

There is no cure for the illness.

It came only a week after he broke down while announcing the birth of his third grandchild.

Hadley with son Daniel.

My granddaughter has just been born, I’ve got messages left right and centre from everyone here. Oh, she’s gorgeous,” Hadley said fighting back tears during the live broadcast.

“She’s 51 centimetres and both are doing well and she’s absolutely perfect. They didn’t tell me this, I’ve been telling you her name was going to be Ella but they’ve called her Ella Rae. What a great honour, Ella Rae Hadley … they’ve named her after her grandpop. I’m going to take a break.”

Daniel, 30, and Cass, who is a former bartender, already share a one-year-old son Noah.

In 2018, Daniel made headlines when he was arrested and charged with cocaine possession while off-duty at the Rouse Hill bar where Cass worked, however the charges were eventually dropped.