Radio 2 legend Bob Harris has revealed that his cancer has spread to his upper spine, describing the past few weeks as 'an extremely testing time.' The 80-year-old broadcaster, who has been with the BBC for five decades, has been living with prostate cancer since 2007.
Last month, Harris announced he was taking a break from presenting his shows, The Country Show and Sounds of the '70s, due to health setbacks. Now, in a candid Instagram update, he shared that he was hospitalised in March as doctors investigated 'the excruciating pain' in his back.
'Several scans later, we discovered that my prostate cancer has got into my upper spine… really frightening news,' Harris wrote. He immediately began a course of radiotherapy, spending two weeks in hospital. 'Thankfully I’m back at home now, on the pathway to recovery and feeling stronger every day.'
Harris also shared a photo of himself smiling in the sunshine, taken by his son. He expressed immense gratitude for his family's support, saying, 'I can’t even begin to think of a way to say thank you. I love them so much.' He also thanked Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, and the BBC Radio 2 family for their unwavering support.
His personal target is to return to his weekly country show by mid-May and Sounds of the '70s later in the same month. Colleagues including Lauren Laverne and Shaun Keaveny have sent their best wishes. Laverne, who took time off for her own cancer treatment, wrote: 'Sending lots of love and good luck with your treatment, Bob.'
Harris, who co-founded Time Out magazine in 1968 and joined the BBC in 1970, is best known for hosting the iconic music show Old Grey Whistle Test in the 1970s. In 2019, he survived emergency surgery after rupturing his aorta.
