Jimmy Tarbuck has revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The veteran comedian, 80, opened up about his diagnosis on Good Morning Britain, insisting he was determined to “try and beat it”.
Speaking to hosts Kate Garraway and Adil Ray on Wednesday, he said: “Right now I feel great. I’m on the telly and I’m having a good time.”
He said his doctor has told him his cancer has not spread and that they believe he will not die “of” the disease.
He said: “I’m having these injections and taking these tablets and then I go onto a yearly thing.”
Jimmy revealed that singer Sir Tom Jones has been his “mentor” and had advised him to see a doctor when he told him about his symptoms.
He said: “He told me what was going to happen, all the tests.
“He said ‘I’ve had this done’ and he told me ‘You’ll get bloods shown’.”
He added: “Boys, go. It is embarrassing. The fella said to me ‘We’re going to give you the thumbs up’. I said ‘I hope not’. He roared laughing.”
Jimmy also urged men to get tested if they are worried about their health.
“All men out there watching, and all wives, get your husbands to go for the tests,” he said. “I think after 50, just have a test, let them have a look at you.
“You will be relieved and be with your families for extra years.”
Jimmy, who rose to fame in the 1960s and was known for hosting variety shows including Sunday Night At The London Palladium and Live From Her Majesty’s, also talked about going on tour again at the age of 80.
He told the programme: “I love the work, I hate the travelling, but I’m doing two cities that I love – Norwich and Wolverhampton.
“The people are very nice, they come out to see me there, so I enjoy that.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
