Rhod Gilbert, comedian and actor revealed that he has been diagnosed with cancer. This statement was made via social media just days after he had paused his current tour.
The Welsh star, 53, revealed he is being treated by the same Cardiff-based cancer centre he serves as patron of while praising the National Health Service for their incredible service.
Rhod is a TV host who has been featured on Never Mind The Buzzcocks. However, Rhod did not disclose the type of cancer that he was diagnosed with but said that he’s in the best hands.
Tough news: Comedian Rhod Gilbert announced he has cancer in a statement issued across social media on Thursday evening
Addressing Facebook followers, he wrote: ‘As a proud patron of Velindre Cancer Centre, I’ve trekked the world, hosted chaotic quizzes and star-studded comedy nights. Many inspiring staff members, patients, and their families have become my friends. For the past ten years, it has been an integral part of my daily life.
“So, while I didn’t imagine that I would become a patient at this hospital, I now know that I am in good hands.
“The NHS healthcare I receive is amazing. This is something I would not wish on anybody… but who knows? Maybe I will come back with a stand-up comedy and a forty minute monologue about orange squash.
“Thank you to all for your support during the past weeks, months (and even years). While I concentrate on my recovery, I will be absent for some time.
This is sad. The 53-year old Welsh star has revealed that he is currently being treated in the Cardiff-based Cancer Centre. However, he praises the National Health Service’s incredible service.
He canceled shows previously due to problems with his throat. Last week, he stopped his Book of John tour.
Posting to facebook on July 8, he wrote: ‘As many of you will know, I’ve been struggling with pain in my neck and throat over the past few months. I’ve been receiving treatment, and have continued to tour where possible.
‘I had sincerely hoped to go ahead with all dates as scheduled, but I’m afraid that is not going to be possible. I am due to have surgery next week and will be hanging up my boots for a while whilst I recuperate.’
He added: ‘I know how frustrating this is. We do not take these decisions lightly, and we are so sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you all – along with all the wonderful venues and staff, for your patience and understanding.
‘I have loved every one of the 200 or so ‘Book of John’ shows we have done. I am genuinely gutted that we didn’t get to do the last 7 shows as planned, but, rest assured, we will do everything we can to finish what we started!’
Disappointment:
Star: The has taken part in a series of initiatives to raise funds for the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. In 2013 he took part in a trek and his journey was documented in the TV show Rhod v Kilimanjaro (pictured)
Rhod was flooded with supportive messages from fans in the comments of his cancer announcement post as one wrote: ‘Rhod sending you armfuls of get well wishes and hope you make a steady recovery. For now gentle hugs my friend’.
Another added: ‘Wishing you lots of love and strength for your treatment ahead. Hope you make a speedy recovery and get a new stage show out of the experience!! xxx’.
‘Wishing you a speedy recovery RHOD. Sending love and hugs from Cornwall. Very much looking forward to seeing you back up on the stage,’ a third wrote.
The comedian has taken part in a series of initiatives to raise funds for the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff over the years.
In 2013 he took part in a trek in Kenya and his journey was documented in the TV show Rhod v Kilimanjaro.
In addition, in 2015 Rhod lead a trek to Patagonia and embarked on more treks in 2019 and 2022 in Peru, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for the centre.
Love: Rhod was flooded with supportive messages from fans in the comments of his post about the cancer
The comedian had announced last week that dates after 9 July in Swansea, Hereford, Yeovil, and Truro for his book tour would be postponed.
At the time, he said: ‘As many of you will know, I’ve been struggling with pain in my neck and throat over the past few months. I have been getting treatment and continue to travel when possible.
“I had really hoped that I could go ahead with the dates as planned, but it is unlikely to happen. Next week, I will have surgery and I’ll be taking a break from work to recuperate.
He stated that he would work to schedule shows in the early 2023, after he has postponed.
Kind: In early 2020 Rhod learned to be a carer as part of his series Work Experience where he followed different people working in a variety of jobs
Rhod said that he had performed about 200 Book of John shows and was truly upset. But, rest assured, he will finish what he started.
Rhod began to learn how to care for people in early 2020 as part of the series Work Experience. This allowed him to follow different workers from a range of occupations.
As a way to show the vital role of care workers, he said that he’d had the vision to create a Care Worker Episode for some time.
The filming was halted by the pandemic and he told Wales Online when the series returned: ‘We were halfway through filming so we didn’t get to finish the series, so some of the episodes are not ready to go out.
“But, but we finished the Carer Episode. It was decided that we would release it sooner than originally planned as we felt the timing was perfect.”
He hosted an entirely new Comedy Central series in 2020 called Rhod Gilbert’s Growing Pains. This show invited special guests to share a journey down the memory lane.
Big name: Career wise, in 2020, he hosted a brand new series for Comedy Central – Rhod Gilbert’s Growing Pains, inviting special guests to join him on a trip down memory lane
Comedy: He hosts Have I Got News For You. He hosted the BBC Two music quiz, Never Mind the Buzzcocks. (pictured in the top row at the second left of Would I Lie to You?)
In three seasons of BBC Two’s immensely popular You’re Fired, he interviewed outgoing candidates while also taking a lighter-hearted view at the events on The Apprentice.
Have I Got News For You, a weekly show that he regularly hosts. He hosted the BBC Two music quiz, Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
Rhod has been married to Welsh write Sian Harries since 2013.
Popular: He has also hosted three series of BBC Two’s show You’re Fired interviewing outgoing candidates and taking a light-hearted look at events in The Apprentice
Love life: Rhod was married to Sian Harries (pictured together, 2020) since 2013.