Sarah Kennedy

[Kahnee]

1 SHOWBIZ KENNEDY

SLURRING PRESENTER WORRIES 'DAWN PATROLLERS'

By Anita Singh, PA Showbusiness Editor

BBC Radio 2 presenter Sarah Kennedy worried listeners today after slurring her way through her early morning show.

Kennedy mispronounced words and let sentences tail off in a rambling performance which prompted a number of listeners to raise concerns on the station's website.

The 57-year-old DJ referred to the Princess of Wales wearing a "pink polka blot" dress, described the victim in the Phil Spector murder trial as having a "gunshot to her month" and offered to send some "panties" to soldiers in Afghanistan.

She also appeared to have difficulty reading the newspaper review.

After garbling one phrase she explained: "I'm sorry, I have got a bit of a breathing problem today but I will get that sorted out by going to see the docs."

Worried listeners to the 6am show - known as Kennedy's "Dawn Patrollers" - posted comments on the Radio 2 messageboard.

"Very odd slurring, struggling to finish longer words, grammatical errors. Her whole scan seemed to be wobbly," one wrote.

Another said: "Was listening to SK this morning, back to the slurring of the words, mispronouncing, dithering, etc. etc. She said she had a breathing problem and was seeing her doctor today. Could I tactfully make a suggestion... perhaps it would be better for all concerned if Sarah was given some time off until she has totally recovered."

A third listener wrote: "There was certainly something wrong. Heaps of mispronunciations, slurring, silences and bizarre remarks. At that hour it can't possibly be what it sounded like, can it?"

And another described Kennedy's performance as "horrid to listen to", adding: "There's obviously something quite badly wrong."

But a Radio 2 spokeswoman said: "Sarah had a very sore throat on Sunday night and unfortunately her voice was beginning to close down just as she was getting up at 3.30am this morning (for her 6am show).

"She thought she might not be on top form but honoured her commitment to the 'Dawn Patrollers'.

"She has been in bed all day today but is confident that she will be on form and 'bushy-tailed' tomorrow."

In 1999, Kennedy took a week off work suffering from exhaustion after making a series of inappropriate on-air comments which drew complaints from listeners.

She called a clergyman an "old prune", described fellow DJ Ken Bruce as an "old fool" and accused a newsreader of soiling her underwear.

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