Sick Alan Jones misses breakfast duty

Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones missed his radio show this morning. His illness came as a report said he had recently been disciplined by his 2GB bosses.

2GB breakfast radio king Alan Jones at Oaks Day during the Melbourne Cup carnival. Picture: Julian Smith/AAP

Star presenter Alan Jones missed his 2GB radio breakfast show this morning, due to ill health.

2GB radio host Chris Smith filled in for the popular shock jock this morning, and kicked-off the three-and-a-half-hour show by telling listeners that Mr Jones was not feel well and resting.

“Yes, good morning, welcome to the program. This is Chris Smith, the main man is off today as you can tell, he’s not feeling too well. So the doctor has ordered he rest up, and hopefully we’ll have him back as soon as possible,” said Mr Smith, who hosts his own radio show from 12pm to 3pm.

Macquarie Media chief executive Adam Lang also cited ill health for Mr Jones’ absence.

“Unfortunately, Alan is unwell at the moment and we hope that he has a swift recovery,” Mr Lang told The Australian in an email.

Mr Jones’ absence came as The Australian reported he has been disciplined by his employer, Macquarie Media, over his recent on-air performance.

Management of Macquarie Media refused to confirm or deny if it had forced its star breakfast presenter to pay some of the costs of the multi-million defamation action brought against the company by the Wagner brothers.

Media Diary was told the board is unhappy with the top-rating veteran broadcaster over three incidents: the Wagner defamation case; the use of the racial epithet “nigger in the woodpile” when discussing Liberal leadership turmoil; and the infamous interview with Sydney Opera House boss Louise Herron, which bosses say was “unbecoming and inappropriate”.