Taskmaster star Richard Herring has announced that he has been diagnosed with an incurable but treatable form of blood cancer. The comedian, who has won two seasons of the show, revealed the news in a Substack post.
Herring further confirmed that his new diagnosis of hairy cell leukaemia was "not linked" to a previous battle with testicular cancer.
"Let me give you the bad news first," he began. "I have cancer again. Not ball cancer this time, I can’t afford to lose another one of those."
Herring continued: "This time I have blood cancer. And God is determined to make sure I get the funniest cancers possible and this one is called hairy cell leukaemia. The other bad news is that it is incurable."
The star said that it is "entirely treatable", before adding that the "treatment has a tiny chance of killing [him], but so has loading the dishwasher, so don’t worry about it".
Herring quipped: "I will of course be using the fact that I have incurable cancer for all it’s worth for the rest of my (hopefully long) life."
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The star went on to reveal that his testicular cancer is "basically at the all-clear stage", though the blood cancer had been "bubbling under for a few years".
"They found a few of the cells in my bone marrow about 12 years ago, but it didn’t get any worse and after five years of being tested the doctor said it was probably going to be OK," he explained. "I’d sort of forgotten about it to be honest."
"I am not too worried or upset, but I am not delighted to have had two cancers before the age of 60," he further reflected. "What treats await me should I live into the next decade?
"To have one cancer elicits sympathy, but getting two starts to look a bit like attention-seeking. At least get a properly dangerous one if you’re going to make a big deal about it. I feel a bit embarrassed about it."
Hairy cell leukaemia is a rare form of chronic leukaemia, and can initially include mild or no symptoms before slowly worsening. Further symptoms can include tiredness, breathlessness, frequent infections, bruising or bleeding easily and swelling in the abdomen, according to Cancer Research UK.
For free and confidential support and information on blood cancer and life after a diagnosis, contact Blood Cancer UK online, by phone on 0808 2080 888 or via email at support@bloodcancer.org.uk.
Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
