DARRELL CURRIE has made his return to screens two years after suffering a life-changing illness.

The Scottish football presenter has been a popular face with fans thanks to his work on BT Sport (now TNT Sports) and Premier Sports.

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He has worked on huge games, from Champions League and Europa League matches to Scottish Cup finals and Scotland fixtures.

But in January last year he revealed he’d been battling chronic pain for months – and it has effectively kept him off air for the best part of two years.

His health deteriorated to the point where it was a struggle for him to even stand up or get out of bed – and he admitted he considered exploring options such as assisted dying.

But he persevered and last week it was announced that he would be making a return to screens as the host of a new online Scottish footie show to be broadcast on X (formerly known as Twitter) and YouTube for Premier Sports.

The first episode of the programme, called The Scottish Football Social Club, began tonight.

And as Currie introduced the format and his guests – Alan Hutton and Michael Stewart – he couldn’t resist a cheeky pop at the latter, to make it just like old times.

He said: “I think we’re live! Welcome along to the new Scottish Football Social Club here on Premier Sports.

“This is the one stop talking shop for all things Scottish football.

“Nice to have a new show, nice to be back as well.

“I have to say just on a personal level it’s been a bit of a health battle the last couple of years but I’m going to enjoy this.

“Have a bit of fun on a Monday night and get to talk about Scottish football as well.

“I’ve really, really missed it, and some of the pundits as well.

“Premier Sports got in touch and said ‘Do you fancy a comeback? Do you fancy getting involved again?’

“The first thing I said was, ‘Give me a sympathetic pundit in the first show. They’ve given me Michael Stewart, what chance have you got!”

Stewart laughed and said in response: “It’s good to get a fresh start and good to have you back on the air Darrell.

“It’s great to see you, and we just need to get you out the house. I can’t believe we’ve got you broadcasting before you’ve left the house.”

Fans were happy to see Currie on the screen again.

“Great to see @darrellcurrietv back. An excellent broadcaster and analyst,” said one.

“Welcome back Darrell,” said another.

But for Currie himself, there was one talking point from the weekend’s football that left him absolutely dumbfounded.

As the trio dissected the Premiership fixture list, they looked at the Dundee vs Hearts clash from 5.30pm on Saturday, which finished 3-1 to the Dens Park side.

Jambos loan star Gerald Taylor avoided a red card for a dangerous lunge Scott Tiffoney.

Currie said: “Gerald Taylor, I was watching that thinking ‘How is this not a red card?’ What has changed since I’ve been away?

“This is totally and utterly wild.

“Is it not, Michael?”

Stewart’s take on the incident was that the contact was just under the threshold of a definite sending off.

He said: “I was commentating on the game and when you first see it you think wow, that’s wild.

“But it’s low and it’s his body that catches Tiffoney, rather than his studs.

“If his foot was even remotely off the deck, he gets a red card.

“I just about think he can get away with it and it a yellow was justified.

“But if it was a red, I don’t think VAR could have overturned it.”

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