'The road has been a bit bumpy' Bill Turnbull steps back from radio job to focus on health
BILL TURNBULL has announced he will be taking a break from his Classic FM radio show to focus on getting better amid his prostate cancer battle.
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Bill Turnbull was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 and has since been undergoing treatment to keep it at bay. Today, the 65-year-old said he will be taking a break from his radio commitments as his health had been "bumpy" in recently.
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The broadcaster wrote: "With great regret I am taking a leave of absence from my show @classicfm, for health reasons.
"The road has been a bit bumpy recently, and I need to take some time to focus on getting better."
He went on to say: "I’m sorry to do this, as I absolutely love doing the programme, and have hugely enjoyed the past five years.
"I am very grateful to friends and colleagues @global for the love and support they have shown me.
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"And I will be back, just as soon as I can be."
A Classic FM spokesperson said: “Bill is a hugely valued and loved member of the Classic FM and Global family. We wish him all the very best as he takes time away from his programmes to concentrate on getting better. Along with our listeners, we look forward to welcoming back him on air as soon as he can be.”
Many of his fans and colleagues flocked to his post to wish him well.
The station's managing editor Phillip Noyce wrote: "Bill you bring such brilliance to our Saturday and Sunday mornings and your passion for the music, entertaining wit, enthusiasm, and love for @ClassicFM's listeners will be much missed over the next few weeks.
"We can’t wait to have you back on-air soon!"
Bill's colleague Dave Rose also commented: "All the very best to a brilliant broadcaster and a wonderful man!
"We'll all miss you @ClassicFM, and once you're past this little bump in the road, we can't wait to have you back on air where you belong."
Richard Taylor added: "Bill, you will be greatly missed but your health comes first.
"Just take care of yourself. I wish you all best."
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Earlier this month, the broadcaster told fans he was set to undergo a blood transfusion.
In a post on Twitter, he said he was "hugely grateful" to those who had donated blood ahead of the procedure.
The former BBC Breakfast presenter was diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer in 2017.
He was later told by doctors that the disease had spread to his spine, ribs, pelvis, hips and legs.
The presenter shared the news publicly months in 2018 and has since been giving fans an update about his progress.
In 2019, viewers saw him exploring potential treatments in his documentary Bill Turnbull: Staying Alive.
On Good Morning Britain back in May, he revealed that he had to have radioactive isotope injected into him once every six weeks.
"It makes you so live, so to speak, that I have to sleep in a separate room for three days, no prolonged contact with small children or pregnant women for six days," he said on the show.
His co-star Susanna Reid jokingly asked: “Is Sessie [Sarah McCombie, Bill’s wife] relieved about that? Or slightly disappointed?”
He replied: “I think everybody is pretty relieved about that.”
Bill went on to say he had also been using CBD oil, an oxygen chamber and garlic to manage his symptoms.
