I think that’s great - I always enjoy his reporting. He recently did a nice story on a charitable organization in Kenya called Sheldrick Wildlife Trust; they rescue and rehabilitate orphaned baby elephants and also treat wounded wildlife in their part of the country.

I remember Ismaila was off the show for something like three months early last year, and there was never any information about why he was gone or when he would return. I don’t expect personal details to be shared, but a brief acknowledgement of his absence would have been nice, even just to say “he’s taken a leave and will return later this year” or similar.

Alfa left MM in March to become host of the weekend "Fresh Air" program on Radio 1. He said he was trying to ease the burden on his family by leaving the grind of the morning show five days a week.