After the celebrity special of Great British Bake Off ended Sandi Toksvig announced that, since filming, Bill had been diagnosed with cancer, introducing: “This is Bill’s story.”
He shared a heartbreaking story of his diagnosis, including how he had to break the news of his illness to his children.
The former BBC Breakfast presenter said: “I was getting pains in my legs, and my hips particular. They would come and go and, I thought it was old age.
“Eventually I went to my GP, who said ‘I’m just going to give you a blood test, just an MOT to check things out.’
“The next morning he called me and told me to come in quickly. He said ‘its fairly clear that you have advanced prostate cancer and it has spread to the bone.’”
Struggling to keep it together, Bill continued to detail the toll it has taken on him so far, explaining how his mind turned to the future.
“It’s like a dark cloud has come down,” he confessed.
“The first few days after the diagnosis are the worst days. Horrible. Worst days of my life.”
Bill revealed that the love and support that he has received from his friends and family has kept him afloat. Even when he had to break the news to his children.
He shared: “My daughter came in and I said, ‘I’ve got to tell you… I have cancer’. And I had to tell my sons over the phone. We all cried.”
Bill is now using his story to urge people to get themselves checked at their GP after admitting he hadn’t been to see his for four years.
“If I had a test a few years ago we would have diagnosed it earlier. My survival possibilities would be better.
“If it was all to end tomorrow I would not feel hard done by. I have had an amazing life.”
Giving a heartfelt tribute to his family, Bill announced through tears: “I have been blessed to have had a wonderful family who still give me joy every day.
“For me, being a father is the most challenging thing you can do, and the most fulfilling. I have been married for almost 30 years, and that, I consider, to have been the best thing I’ve ever done.”
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