Star ‘feels fantastic’ after cancer treatment
FORMER BBC breakfast host Bill Turnbull says he ‘feels fantastic’ after finishing chemotherapy - just over a year after revealing he was suffering from incurable prostate cancer.
The 63-year-old, who became a well-known face around Macclesfield during his four years living in the town, was diagnosed while filming The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer special in November 2017.
Bill, who lived in Rainow during four years presenting BBC Breakfast in Salford, was put on steroids last year after nine rounds of chemotherapy.
He said: “I’ve had a holiday from it now for 10 months. I still have bad days, but I get through.”
When diagnosed, the cancer had spread to his pelvis, hips, legs and spine.
The Classic FM host was speaking at the Chelsea Flower Show, where he was reunited with weather presenter Carol Kirkwood, his former BBC colleague.
Bill said: “My hair has grown back and I’m letting my hair grow long just to celebrate. I know I looked awful last year.
“I saw pictures of myself and I was, ‘Oh Lord, that was just ghastly’. I was in the middle of the treatment.”
“I try to meditate. I try various things. You need a shoulder a cry on. And you do cry.
“I’ve got a great shoulder to cry on - my wife is a brilliant shoulder to cry on. She’s got wet shoulders.”
Bill married Sarah McCombie in 1988 and they have three children.
Upon leaving Macclesfield to return to the south of England in 2016, following his decision to quit BBC Breakfast, he wrote an open letter to the town.
Printed in the Express it said: “New York, London, Paris, Munich...I’ve lived in all of them at some point or other, and a few other places besides.
“But I can honestly say none of them can quite match Macclesfield for character.”
Among the things Bill listed that he would miss about Macclesfield were the countryside, the Treacle Market, the Heritage Centre, bread from Flour Water Salt, the Cotton Tree pub, in Bollington, and people’s friendly nature.
The broadcaster also said that he is working on a documentary film on his condition for Channel 4 which will air in the autumn.