MILTON Jones has delighted fans by announcing he is cancer free and headed back on tour.
The 61-year-old comedian, famed for his frequent appearances on Mock The Week and 8 Out of 10 Cats, was forced to cancel dates of his tour Ha-Milton after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in April.
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However, in a new statement posted online, Milton has confirmed he is now on the mend, and is even planning to get back on the road.
Using his signature punny and dry wit, Milton shared: “A few months ago, I had to stop my tour Ha-Milton because I needed treatment for prostate cancer.
“I’m glad to say I’ve had that treatment and am now cancer free! So, many thanks to all the doctors and nurses who helped me get better – I couldn’t do their job. I tried, but apparently you have to be qualified.”
“A big thank you to my family, friends, all those who helped reschedule things and the many others who have been so nice to me,” he continued.
“Along with all those who have kept hold of their tickets for the shows that have been rescheduled and apologies to those whose shows we were unable to move.”
“I have to admit there were a few dark moments when I wondered if anyone would ever see me again, but then I realised that I was leaning against the light switch,” he deadpanned.
“Thankfully I’m now in a completely different place, and if you look at my website, you’ll see that very soon I’ll be in lots of other different places on tour too. I hope to see you there.”
Fellow comedian Jon Richardson was one of the first to send his well wishes, posting a simple heart emoji to share his admiration for his friend.
BBC Five Live host Matt Chorley added: “Great news!”
Milton was forced to cancel 11 dates of his tour as he sought treatment for his diagnosis, rescheduling five others.
According to his website, he will be back on the road from September 15th, when he’ll be performing at Stafford Gatehouse.
He will then continue performing through to the end of December.
It has not yet been confirmed if he intends to add more dates to the tour.
One in eight men will get prostate cancer
The risk of developing prostate cancer depends on many factors, here are some of the facts about the disease and how many men it affects.
- One in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime
- It is the fourth most common cancer worldwide, and the most common in men
- There are 55,000 new cases every year in the UK, and 1.4million globally
- Around 12,000 people lose their lives to prostate cancer annually in the UK and almost 400,000 around the world
- Prostate cancer accounts for 28 per cent of all new cancer cases in men in the UK, and 14 per cent of all new cancer cases in men and women combined
- Prostate cancer survival has tripled in the last 50 years in the UK
- More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of patients survive for 10 or more years
- About 490,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer in the UK
- It is most common in men aged 75 to 79
- Since the early 1990s, cases have increased by 53 per cent in the UK
- Mortality rates are up 16 per cent since the early 1970s in the UK
- Incidence rates are projected to rise by 15 per cent in the UK between 2023 to 2025 and 2038 to 2040
- Mortality rates are expected to fall five per cent in the UK over the same years
Source: Prostate Cancer UK, World Cancer Research Fund International and Cancer Research UK
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