Radio 2 star DJ Spoony reveals his scars are 'healing amazingly' but admits 'his fitness isn't where it was' as he gives health update after being hospitalised for emergency brain surgery over Christmas

DJ Spoony has given fans an update on his health after he revealed he was hospitalised over Christmas to have emergency brain surgery. 

The radio presenter, 54, took to his Instagram at the end of the year to explain that doctors discovered he had a subdural haematoma (a bleed on the brain) after he complained about a month-long headache.

Sharing a selection of photos of him during his hospitalisation, he voiced his gratitude to be surrounded by his loved ones at Christmas after his ordeal, admitting it had been 'humbling'.

Several weeks later, DJ Spoony gave fans an update, saying he was 'healing amazingly' and confessing he had been 'overwhelmed' by all the support he'd received.

Speaking to his fellow Radio 2 star, Mark Goodier, on his breakfast show on Thursday, he reassured that he was feeling 'really good', despite not being at 100 per cent quite yet.

Mark asked: 'The question I have to ask you is how are you feeling because people will have seen your social over Christmas. You are 100% better now?'

DJ Spoony said: 'Yeah thank you. I’m back to… You know my fitness isn’t where it was, but my health is fine, the scars are healing amazingly. 

'I can’t believe how well the scars are healing. I’m sure I’ve had paper cuts that have taken longer to heal than the operation scars.'

He went on: 'I’m really good. Thank you for asking. Thank you to everybody that’s messaged, it’s been a bit overwhelming if I’m honest.'

Mark added: 'The human body has an amazing way of repairing itself especially after serious things, so glad you are ready, glad you’re nearly back to full strength.' 

DJ Spoony was flooded with support from his friends and loved ones after announcing his surgery, including from Davina McCall who recently had an operation of her own to remove a brain tumour. 

Revealing the news on his social media, he wrote: 'That was one of the best Christmas' I've ever had. I'm very grateful for all it showed me. For all I have. For all the love, hugs and...love.

'So.... I had a headache for the 3/4 weeks and went to A&E to get it checked on Saturday 21st. (I rarely get them)

'They did a few tests and said they wanted to give me a CT scan. The scan showed I had a small bleed on the brain (that had stopped bleeding) that was causing a bit of pressure on the brain hence the headaches.

'They said that they were referring me to Adenbrooks as they needed to operate asap. Crazy as I'd been working and training solidly all through the time of the headaches.

'I was in hospital for 4 nights and was eventually operated on 24.12 at 2am. By their very high standards it was a routine operation to sort my subdural hematoma.'

He continued: 'What was crazy was the headache had instantly gone. 4 weeks of this throb and finally peace up top.

'I woke up on Christmas morning in hospital. I was so grateful. Had something special to look forward to. Going home to my family and friends. All who had been incredible for the last few days. The visits, support, calls, messages. Very humbling.

'There was however some sadness waking up near to some people that didn't know where they were, that would've spent a large part, if not all, of the day without loved ones. I think about them all every day and hope they are making progress in their recovery. [sic]'

Concluding by thanking the medical team, he wrote: 'Thank you to Bedford Hospital for the scan and Addenbrokes for completing the task. You really are the best in the business. All the nurses, doctors, health assistants that looked after me. Thank you to the NHS. Thank you Richard Hughes, Michael Edwards, Arne Slot and Mo Salah.'

A subdural haematoma is a serious condition where blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain and usually need to be treated with surgery as soon as possible.

They are usually caused by a head injury, which are often severe - such as those from a car crash, fall or violent assault - but minor bumps to the head can also lead to a subdural haematoma in a few cases.

Davina was quick to comment on DJ Spoony's post, sharing her support by writing: 'Yayyyyyy!!! Fantastic result !!!!'

The TV presenter, 57, knows all too well about brain surgery, as she had an operation  in November to remove a rare benign tumour on her brain, that affects three in a million people.

Zoe Ball was also quick to comment on DJ Spoony's post, writing: 'Oh darling. thank goodness you got checked out and fabulous team looked after you. hope you can rest a bit and heal well. mega love to you ❤️‍'

Kate Lawler penned: 'So glad you’re okay. I do love a surprise for loved ones. So beautiful xx ❤️' and Paddy McGuinness added: 'Back at it pal.'

DJ Spoony is preparing to to launch his new Monday to Thursday show, The Good Groove with DJ Spoony, next Monday -  the same day Scott Mills and Trevor Nelson are presenting their new Radio 2 shows.

Speaking to Mark about how it felt for the trio to all be starting their shows on the same day, the DJ, real name John St John Joseph BEM, gushed it was 'beautiful'.

He continued: 'It’s nice to share that experience and not start the first day at school as the only new boy, so for that reason we could all get lost around the corridors together and sit together at lunch! 

'It’s really nice, Scott obviously is the outstanding candidate for Breakfast, I’m absolutely delighted for him, he lives for that.

'Really looking forward to Trevor to get on afternoons and know what daylight looks like when he goes into the studio because for 6 years in after dark.'

DJ Spoony's slot is from 10pm to midnight, but he insisted he was ready for the late nights, saying: 'And me going four nights a week and becoming the night walker – I can handle it!... Being up after dark is no hardship!'

He recalled how he developed his love for radio, after being in the industry for three decades.

He explained: 'My first ever show on pirate radio, that was a real moment. I grew up at a time listening to, when I say the greats, the real greats, someone like Steve Wright who became my colleague, people like Kenny Everett and Chris Tarrant.  

'I used to sit looking at the radio feeling I was watching TV. So when that time came for me to start broadcasting myself, I felt like I’d been doing it a long time, even though it was my first ever link. 

'But moving on from that, we joined Radio 1 as the Dream Team, shouts to Timmy and Mikey, in the year 2000, then it’s been a series of in and outs, but absolutely loving it. But I can’t believe I’m getting into my third decade – that’s crazy.'

DJ Spoony shot to fame as a garage DJ in the Nineties, progressing from pirate radio to become one the first garage DJs to play the music genre on Radio 1. 

He went on to front a Five Live phone-in show and hosted the Radio 1 Sunday Breakfast Show. 

He also took part in the 2006 series of Strictly Come Dancing with professional Ola Jordan, but they were eliminated in the third week, despite receiving positive comments from the judging panel.

In 2022, DJ Spoony was recognised with a British Empire Medal for his services to charity through music during the Covid pandemic.

Across ten weeks in the 2020 lockdown, he hosted DJ livestreams from his home every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, playing R&B, club classics, soul and UK garage. 

The streams, which were broadcast live via Twitch and Instagram, raised more than £20,000 for the NHS and various charities and saw more than one million listeners tune in. 

Speaking about receiving an MBE, DJ Spoony confessed: 'I didn't think for the life of me that those streams would have the impact that they did. No way could I have imagined it. 

'And I know that's quite romantic, but I see this award as much as for our community as for me. And that's largely why I'm accepting it, because I'm a little bit conflicted with the whole thing. 

'But I'm going to take this on behalf of everybody that stuck together and made those afternoons and evenings streaming so pleasant.'

He dedicated his MBE to his late mother, declaring: 'I learned to dance standing on her feet and she gave me rhythm.'