Former morning TV host Nick Owen has discussed how hard it was to inform his children about his cancer diagnosis.
The host, who has been a well-known figure on BBC Midlands Today for over 25 years, revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in April 2023, stating a few months later that his cancer was ‘aggressive’ and ‘extensive’.
Following this, after opening up about the ‘worst day of [his] life’, Owen took a break from work before returning in September, having undergone treatment.
He has since been encouraging people to get checked, even if they do not have any symptoms, and has now talked about the emotional conversations he had with his sons.
The 76-year-old is concerned that his sons may be at risk, but received the news a few weeks ago that, after a prostate-specific antigen test, his cancer has not returned.
‘I’ve been through the middle of it. And I realized that the sooner you get seen the better,’ he stated in a new interview.
He continued by saying: ‘Informing my children was challenging. I have four children, three are our boys, two in their forties and one in their late thirties, and it was quite emotional. The MirrorThe BBC host announced his cancer diagnosis in August (Picture: BBC)
‘I’ll pressure them to go earlier than 50, to be honest, to have the PSA tests. And the key point is if you have any hint of concern, get it checked out.’
Owen co-hosted Good Morning with Anne and Nick on BBC One with Anne Diamond from 1992 to 1996, before becoming a lead presenter on BBC Midlands Today.
Owen co-hosted Good Morning with Anne and Nick with Anne Diamond
After speaking publicly about his illness in August, Owen appeared on BBC Breakfast to urge more men to participate in prostate cancer screenings, which prompted an ‘astonishing response’ that left him ‘thrilled and moved’.
Prostate Cancer UK said sharing his diagnosis had made a significant impact, with Google searches for the condition increasing 254 per cent in the following 48 hours.
‘It was a massive relief to be able to tell everyone what was going on so I didn’t have to keep it to myself anymore,’ Nick said.
‘If it’s done some good and it seems to have done, I’m absolutely thrilled. That was the whole purpose really, of telling the world.’
It was a challenging conversation.
