FIRST Dates star Merlin Griffiths has let fans know that he is still struggling through the cancer recovery process despite being given the all clear.
The barman from the Channel 4 reality show was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021.
Since then the 48-year-old has undergone chemotherapy and two operations to remove a tumour.
Docs have given Merlin the incredible news that he is now cancer free, but he has explained that he has suffered from health complications ever since the illness.
In an exclusive interview with the Sun’s TV Mag, he shared: “You get monitored for any evidence of disease quite closely for the first five years post cancer, or post operative treatment.
“Yeah, so we’ll see. Three more years left to go, we’re getting there.
“[I’m] still slowly getting back to health. I’ll be honest. The bit that surprised me more actually, in the aftermath of this, is the changes that it makes to your body, and the amount of time it takes your body to really recover.
“While externally you can look fine and mentally you can sort of start feeling fine again.
“It’s weird. This year, I tried starting to push myself properly.
“I used to be a really keen cyclist. I’d do hundreds of miles a week. I’d do 120 miles in a single sitting, quite happily.
“These days – 25, 30 miles, my body is grumbling. Internally I’m still not quite back together, but we’ll get there.”
Despite noticing that his strength levels have dipped significantly, Merlin is still relieved to have received the all clear.
That said, he does worry about going for a check up and finding the cancer has returned, so he doesn’t plan to celebrate just yet.
He added: “I’m an eternal optimist, but I’m also a pragmatist.
“We just take it day by day. When we hit five years, the NHS likely
start going well, okay, that’s about as far as we can go.
“Then you’re back to just general monitoring for the next
five years. Then when I hit 10 years – touch wood – when we get to 10 years post treatment, then, at that point, they’ve largely
washed their hands of us.
“So that’s what we look forward to. Yeah, we’ll get to that point, then I’ll probably have a little sing and a dance.”
Fred Sirieix
Fred is the charismatic French maître d’hôtel who hosts First Dates. He has a rich background in the hospitality industry, with over 30 years of experience. Fred has been part of the reality show since 2015 and his charming personality helps to put punters going on the dates at ease.
Merlin Griffiths
Merlin is the bartender on First Dates. His friendly presence and expert mixology skills contribute to the show’s warm atmosphere. Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Merlin was in the bar industry for over two decades before offering his services to the Channel 4 series. Outside of First Dates, Merlin also owns and operates his own bar.
Cici Coleman
Cici is the show’s outgoing waitress. She trained as an actress before joining the cast of First Dates, which lends theatrical flair to her role. Her ability to make guests feel at ease, coupled with her genuine interest in their stories, has endeared her to viewers. Outside of her work on First Dates, Cici continues to pursue her passion for acting and fitness, often sharing insights into her life and career on social media.
