Chris Evans announces cancer diagnosis in emotional radio broadcast
Evans revealed the news on his Virgin Radio show.
Radio host Chris Evans has revealed live on air today (Monday 21st August) that he has been diagnosed with skin cancer.
Evans announced the diagnosis on his Virgin Radio show, telling fans that his doctors had only recently delivered the news to him. He also revealed that the cancer has been discovered in its early stages, telling listeners that it is treatable.
The former BBC Radio 2 host said: "We need to discuss what's going on with this issue.
"It is a melanoma. There's this phrase called a malignant melanoma - you know once you get something, and you find out all about it - that is a redundant phrase because if it is a melanoma it is malignant.
"But it's been caught so early, just so you know, that it should be completely treatable."
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He also added that his treatment for the condition is scheduled on the 14th September.
The radio host, who is also a running enthusiast, joked during his show that he won’t be able to run for "a month afterwards", saying: "So I’m going to do nothing but run until then. Is that OK?"
The diagnosis comes after Evans had initially been concerned about skin cancer back in 2019 after discovering strange marks on his body.
The high UV levels during that summer prompted him to see a doctor but Evans said he was told he had "nothing to worry about" and that he was advised to get checked for the condition once a year, "just because of your complexion".
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Evans also had a prostate cancer scare in 2015 but was given the all clear.
Evans joined Virgin Radio back in 2018 after being at the helm of the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show for years, making the move with most of his regular team.
It was the end of his long career period at the BBC, which saw him present The One Show on Fridays between 2010 and 2015, and he also was part of the Top Gear line-up from 2015.
If you have been affected but the issues discussed in this article, you can visit MacMillan or call 0808 808 0000 for support. Help can also be found at Cancer Research.
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Authors
Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.