Bill Turnbull speaks about prostate cancer battle on Celebrity Bake Off

Telegraph Reporters
Updated

The first episode of The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer proved a poignant watch for the millions who tuned in hours after learning that contestant and former breakfast broadcaster Bill Turnbull had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

However, the Channel 4 show dedicated the final minutes of its hour to Turnbull's story, in a short film in which he talked about his diagnosis and reflected on his life.

"I prided myself on the fact I had not been to see my GP for four years," he said in the documentary, "I was not aware that something was going rather wrong inside me". 

Turnbull explained that he mistook pains in his legs and hips – symptoms of the cancer – as old age. After going to see the doctor, he was called in the next day and told he had advanced prostate cancer that had spread to the bone. 

"I thought, now I've got to deal with the future, or having much less of a future than I thought I had," Turnbull said, comparing the experience to having a "dark curtain or a dark cloud coming down". 

"Those first few days after diagnosis are really horrible," he said. "Probably, the worst days of my life". 

Bill Turnbull discussing his diagnosis
Bill Turnbull discussing his diagnosis

Turnbull added that he was grateful for the love and support he'd been shown by friends, which has "kept us afloat", and said that he cried while telling his children about his cancer on the phone.

"I had to tell my sons on the phone... we all cried," he said. "If it was to all end tomorrow I would not feel hard done by because I've had an amazing life."

"I've been incredibly lucky and if one thing comes out of this it's that actually if you know you're time is limited you appreciate so much more the world around you and particularly the love of my family."

It was a section of unexpected gravity after the fun of Bake Off, which saw Turnbull join Harry Hill and Martin Kemp in the marquee. Many viewers shared their sorrow for Turnbull – who on said on Tuesday that he "can’t plan beyond 12 years” – on Twitter, and thanked him for his candour.