Sarah Kennedy joined the Radio 2 team in 1997

The 57-year-old presenter mispronounced words and stumbled over sentences which prompted fans to raise concerns for her health on the station's website.

One listener described her show as "horrid to listen to".

A Radio 2 spokesperson said she has been in bed all day and "is confident she will be on-form" tomorrow.

'Breathing problem'

During her hour-and-a-half programme Kennedy referred to the Princess of Wales as wearing a "pink polka blot" dress, and described the victim in the Phil Spector murder trial as having a "gunshot to her month."

After stumbling over reading the newspapers she said: "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."

Dedicated listeners to the show began posts on the Radio 2 messageboard.

One wrote: "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."

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.