Former BBC Breakfast host Bill Turnbull has said his prostate cancer diagnosis has made him appreciate his family more.
The broadcaster, 62, revealed he was battling the disease this week and opened up about it following an appearance on The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer on Tuesday evening.
He told viewers his marriage of nearly 30 years was the “best thing I’ve ever done” and called fatherhood “the most challenging thing you can do and the most fulfilling”.
“If it was to all end tomorrow I would not feel hard done by because I’ve had an amazing life,” he said.
“I’ve been incredibly lucky and if one thing comes out of this it’s that actually if you know you’re time is limited you appreciate so much more the world around you and particularly the love of my family.”
Naturally, many were overcome with emotion, hearing his words:
Still thinking about, and extremely moved by, @billtu’s heartbreaking speech at the end of #StandUpToCancer #GBBO! A poignant reminder that we should all look after ourselves by getting checked, and that we have to do all we can to fight this awful disease. Good luck Bill!
— Chloe McMackin (@ChloeMcMackin) 7 March 2018
Amazing #GBBO @billtu is incredible, my heart goes out to him & his family xxx @StandUp2C let’s kick cancer in the nuts!!
— The Preservation Society (@ThePresSociety) 7 March 2018
#GBBO
My heart breaks for Bill Turnbull. So tough to have gone through this and so brave for him to be public and encourage others to check. And good on Channel 4 for including this film in the sho— Christopher Nyarikwenga (@christo75085418) 7 March 2018
He revealed he had to break the news of his illness to his sons over the phone.
On Tuesday a number of ex-colleagues sent their love to the former BBC stalwart including his former co-hosts Louise Minchin and Susanna Reid.
Viewers saw him having a go at cake-making on Channel 4’s Celebrity Bake Off which was filmed prior to Bill being diagnosed.
He told the Radio Times on Monday: “When I was making my cupcakes, I had the disease and didn’t know it.”
The much-loved broadcaster, who had prostate tests at 40 and 50, said he was “cross with myself” for having prided himself on not visiting a GP in four years.
The presenter was pitted against comedians Harry Hill and Roisin Conaty and musician Martin Kemp in the charity special of the show.
Read more: Piers Morgan reveals cancer scare
Harry took home the Star Baker prize after an interesting plate of biscuits featuring Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall sunbathing and a surfing horse.
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