BBC star Nick Owen was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023 and has since become an advocate for men getting tested for the disease, which has seen a rise in cases
BBC star Nick Owen has revealed that “hundreds” of blokes have told him his cancer battle prompted them to get checked out, with some saying it was a life-saving move.
The telly news legend was hit with the bombshell of “extensive and aggressive prostate cancer” two years ago this month, which follows another tragic story for BBC alum. Despite having no symptoms, a blood test in April 2023 showed dodgy prostrate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, leading his GP to push for a specialist consultation.
This resulted in his diagnosis and subsequent surgery. Going public with his health scare, Nick sparked a massive increase in awareness and had fellas queuing up for tests.
A whopping 55,033 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023 alone, marking a 25% jump in cases since 2019.
Now at 77, Nick reflects on that time: “It was possibly the worst day of my life. But I’m still thriving, I’m still grateful. I’m feeling pretty well and glad to be where I am now. Hopefully I’m cancer free. I’m a lucky boy,” reports the Mirror.
He’s constantly bombarded with messages from gents who say his openness about his own scare got them to take the plunge and get a PSA test, which for many meant catching the big C early enough to knock it on the head. “Every week someone is writing to me to say hearing my story made them get a PSA test, they were diagnosed and having the operation,” he shares.
“I was in our village this week and a man came up to thank me. He had a PSA test as a result of the publicity, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had the operation seven weeks ago. Like me, he had no symptoms. It’s constant. It’s happened hundreds of times. It’s breathtaking and emotional. I’m glad some good has come out of this. It’s vital that people get tested.”
Nick first became a household name back in 1983 when he was one of the pioneering presenters to grace Britain’s breakfast television screens. Known for his groan-inducing puns, many reckon he’s the real-life muse behind Steve Coogan’s cringey character Alan Partridge.
He famously co-anchored Good Morning Britain on TV-am alongside Anne Diamond, who also shared her own battle with breast cancer just two months after Nick went public with his diagnosis.
“Anne has been through a terrible time as well,” he reflects. “We have text conversations every now and then. We had the primary cancers for men and women at the same time. She is doing OK now. She’s back on television twice a week.”
Celebrating half a century in broadcasting, Nick took a brief hiatus post-surgery before bouncing back to his role on Midlands Today, which he’s helmed since ’97, returning to the screen in October.
He shares: “I still work two days a week, I’m slowing down. I’m 78 this year, I must be the oldest TV presenter! I love talking to people and being involved in the newsroom banter. I am the arch mickey taker and would miss that. I love the people I work with.”
Reflecting on his illustrious career, Nick, a proud father of four and grandad to three from his first marriage to Jill, and now five years into his second marriage with Vicki, fondly recalls his interview with comedy icon Eric Morecambe as the highlight.
Eric, who was a director at Luton Town FC—a club where Nick is a lifelong supporter and served as chairman from 2008 to 2017—left a lasting impression. He reminisced: “I used to see him in the director’s box at Luton Town FC when I was on the terraces and ended up getting to know him.
“Comedians are often quite low key when they are not performing. They are just normal people doing a job. Eric was a funny man. I asked him once: ‘You have three children?’ and he answered: ‘I think so, I left early this morning.’ He always had an answer.”
Nick also keeps in touch with another blast from the past, his TV-am co-star Roland Rat. “I still speak to him now – or rather the guy behind him. He lives in the States now,” he revealed.
He shared a chuckle-worthy anecdote about a time when a young lad at an awards ceremony for children’s achievements recognised him as “I remember an awards ceremony for children’s achievements. I was chatting to a young boy with Margaret Thatcher next to me and the boy pointed at me and said ‘It’s Roland Rat’s daddy!’ I don’t think Margaret Thatcher knew who he meant, but he had obviously seen us together on television.”
while he was chatting next to Margaret Thatcher, leaving the Iron Lady clueless.
“He was a bit rebellious and cheeky and it was great fun talking to a puppet. I was sitting on the sofa talking to a lump of cloth and the person who was working him was at my feet. Great memories.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
