DJ Radcliffe to go off air for cancer treatment

BBC radio host Mark Radcliffe has revealed he will take a break from his shows to have treatment for tongue and lymph node cancer.

Radcliffe, 60, host of The Folk Show on Radio 2 and the RadMac show on 6 Music, was inundated with good luck messages from other stars and listeners.

He shared the news live on air during The Folk Show on Wednesday night. He said that the cancer had been ‘caught very early’ and that he hoped to be back on air next year. The father- of-three, pictured, also made the announcement on Twitter.

He said: ‘I’m sad to say that I’ve got some cancerous tongue and lymph node issues and so, as I’m sure you’ll understand, I’m going to be disappearing for a while to get that all sorted out. It’s all been caught very early and so everything should be fine.’

He added: ‘All being well I’ll be back in action in the new year – or sooner if I feel well enough – but I will be back, you can depend on it.

‘So you won’t hear from me for a while now and therefore... well... Merry Christmas I guess. Life eh?’

Fellow presenters were quick to tweet their well wishes.

Simon Mayo wrote: ‘ Hey get well soon Mark! Look forward to your full recovery.’ Jeremy Vine added: ‘ Great DJ, great voice, great guy,’ adding: ‘Wishing my colleague Mark Radcliffe all the best – can’t wait to see you back in the building.’

A BBC spokesman said: ‘Everyone at Radio 2 and 6 Music wishes Mark well and we look forward to welcoming him back when he’s ready.’