Trevor Nelson returns to Radio 2 after surgery: ‘I’ve been hijacked this summer’

Trevor Nelson has said he felt like he was “hijacked” this summer and that the “ransom has been paid” after returning to Radio 2 following surgery for a brain tumour.The broadcaster, 62, is making a staggered return to the airwaves following an “emotional and very difficult” summer.Kicking off his first show back on Monday afternoon, he said all the love and support he has received over the past few months has been “overwhelming” and helped him through during his “darkest moments”.Trevor Nelson had surgery this summer (Ian West/PA)PA ArchiveHe said: “I’ve missed sitting in this seat, I’ve missed being in this studio – being on the eighth floor of BBC broadcasting house, being on the best radio station in the world, and missed you most of all. Boy, have I missed you guys!“I think this tune is appropriate,” he added before playing Welcome Back by John Sebastian followed by Stevie Wonder’s Uptight (Everything’s Alright).He later said he was “so happy” to be back in the studio alongside his colleagues which he described as being “like a family”.“I feel like I’ve been hijacked this summer. Someone’s paid the ransom at last, freed me, and freed me,” he said.“It’s been an emotional and very difficult summer for me. But I’ve got through with a lot of help from close friends and family, my management, my wife Pri has been amazing and everybody close to me.“It feels weird saying that people who I don’t know have helped me massively. All the listeners, all the love has been overwhelming and insane.“In my darkest moments, it really did help me through.“When you know people hear about you and want you back doing what they want you to do. It’s great and I feel so good.”Trevor Nelson will be back full-time on September 28 (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)PA ArchiveThe broadcaster added that he was “gutted” that he will not be able to go to Radio 2 in the Park this weekend which is taking place in Stirling.Read MoreNelson announced in June that he was taking a break from work to deal with “health issues”.He later revealed in a video shared in August that his “world was turned upside down” when he found out he had a tumour and that he had spent the last month “recuperating, resting and recovering”.Nelson, who presents weekdays 2-4pm on Radio 2, and BBC Radio 1Xtra each Sunday from 11am–1pm is making a staggered return to the station and getting behind the mic for two days this week – Monday and Wednesday (September 9); three days the week after – Monday (September 14), Wednesday (16), and Friday (18); and four days the following week – Monday (21), Tuesday (22), Thursday (24) and Friday (25); before returning full-time from Monday September 28.He has worked for radio stations including Kiss FM, Radio 1, Radio 2 and MTV during his decades-long broadcasting career.