The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Broadcaster Turnbull to join old pal for breakfast television stint
Bill Turnbull has warned that “the beast might be unleashed” when he makes his return to breakfast television after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017.
The veteran presenter will be reunited with his former BBC Breakfast co-star Susanna Reid when he co-hosts rival programme Good Morning Britain for a special three-day run at the end of February.
He will fill in for Piers Morgan and said: “Susanna’s an old friend.
“I first worked with her in Washington when I was a correspondent and she was a producer, which must be 25 years ago.
“It’s great when you work with someone you like on television and it’s effortless.
“It comes really naturally and you develop a rhythm and a silent understanding of who is going to do what and you recognise each other’s patterns and it’s easy.
“When you come off air, you feel like you’ve really enjoyed it, that’s when it works well.”
Turnbull said it “goes against my personal grain” to be more outspoken on GMB and said: “I’m so used to not spouting off on air.
“I’ve been working on commercial radio, so to a limited degree I’ve had more freedom.
“But who knows what might happen. It might be that the beast might be unleashed on air – you’ll have to watch and find out.”
Classic FM host Turnbull, who presented on BBC Breakfast from 2001 until 2016, was diagnosed with prostate cancer which then spread to other parts of his body, and he detailed his treatment in a Channel 4 documentary called Staying Alive last year.