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“Drunk” BBC DJ taken off air during farewell show

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A BBC Radio Stoke DJ was replaced during her farewell afternoon show after she started slurring her words on air and sounding drunk.

Paula White started her final show at 1pm on Friday after six years as the station’s afternoon presenter.

It soon became apparent though that something was up – with suggestions from some listeners that White was drunk.

She started the show with the announcement “for the last time on lunchtime let’s ssssssssssay you pick the music”, and followed it after the first song with “it’s a P-A-R-T-Y because I ssssaid sooooo!”

The full 30-minute broadcast, containing several other legendary links, can be heard here – which understandably has gone viral.

When a listener sent a text message to producers suggesting she was drunk, White protested: “I’m not drunk, I’m not drunk. I’ve had a couple of drinks. I’m not drunk.”

After she had stumbled through 30 minutes colleague Den Siegertsz took over and finished the show, saying: “Paula is not feeling well and has gone home.”

A spokesperson for the BBC said later: “Paula White was unable to continue on-air yesterday as she was under par. Fortunately Denholm Siergertz was on hand to take over the show and listeners were able to enjoy the usual lively mix of chat and local news.

“We can confirm that this was Paula’s last show in the afternoon weekday slot on BBC Radio Stoke.”

It is not known whether White’s brief broadcast will affect her planned switch to a Saturday slot on the station.

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