BBC presenter Nick Owen shares health update on cancer battle as left emotional (2025)

The Midlands Today host and former TV-am presenter was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023 and has urged other men to get tested after he gave a health update admitting people have approached him on the street

BBC newsreader Nick Owen revealed that "hundreds" of men have informed him how his cancer experience prompted them to undergo tests, with some crediting the move as life-saving. It's been two years this month since the presenter was diagnosed with "extensive and aggressive prostate cancer".

Despite lacking symptoms, a blood test in April 2023 showed slightly raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, prompting his GP to recommend specialist consultation. This resulted in his diagnosis and subsequent surgery.

Going public about his health battle has resulted in increased awareness and higher testing rates among men. In 2023, a staggering 55,033 cases of prostate cancer were recorded, marking a 25% increase since 2019 as reported by the Mirror.

Now 77, the presenter reflects: "It was possibly the worst day of my life. But I'm still thriving, I'm still grateful. I'm feeling pretty well and glad to be where I am now. Hopefully, I'm cancer-free. I'm a lucky boy."

He continually receives messages from individuals whose early cancer detection and treatment they attribute to his openness about his condition. "Every week someone is writing to me to say hearing my story made them get a PSA test, they were diagnosed and having the operation," he shares.

"I was in our village this week and a man came up to thank me. He had a PSA test as a result of the publicity, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had the operation seven weeks ago. Like me, he had no symptoms. It's constant. It's happened hundreds of times. It's breathtaking and emotional. I'm glad some good has come out of this. It's vital that people get tested."

Having first gained national attention in 1983 as one of the pioneering presenters on British breakfast television, Nick, known for his quirky puns, is often thought to be the real-life muse behind Steve Coogan's fictional TV host, Alan Partridge.

He co-presented the popular morning show Good Morning Britain on TV-am with Anne Diamond. Diamond later disclosed her own battle with breast cancer, which was diagnosed two months after Nick received his diagnosis.

"Anne has been through a terrible time as well," he notes. "We have text conversations every now and then. We had the primary cancers for men and women at the same time. She is doing OK now. She's back on television twice a week."

Celebrating 50 years in the broadcasting industry, Nick took a brief absence from his anchoring duties following his surgery and resumed his role on Midlands Today, his gig since 1997, in October.

He shares: "I still work two days a week, I'm slowing down. I'm 78 this year, I must be the oldest TV presenter! I love talking to people and being involved in the news room banter. I am the arch mickey taker and would miss that. I love the people I work with."

Reflecting on his illustrious career, Nick, a father of four and grandfather to three from his first marriage to Jill and now five years into his marriage with Vicki, cherishes the memory of interviewing comedy icon Eric Morecambe as a highlight.

Eric, who was a director at Luton Town FC—a club where Nick is a lifelong supporter and served as chairman from 2008 to 2017—left a lasting impression. He recalls: "I used to see him in the director's box at Luton Town FC when I was on the terraces and ended up getting to know him.

"Comedians are often quite low key when they are not performing. They are just normal people doing a job. Eric was a funny man. I asked him once: 'You have three children?' and he answered: 'I think so, I left early this morning.' He always had an answer."

Nick also maintains contact with another figure from his TV-am days, Roland Rat, or rather the person behind the character, who now resides in the US. He reminisces: "I still speak to him now – or rather the guy behind him. He lives in the States now,".

He fondly remembers a particular awards ceremony for children's achievements, where he was conversing with a young boy alongside Margaret Thatcher. The boy excitedly identified Nick as 'Roland Rat's daddy', leaving Thatcher likely puzzled, having seen them together on television.

"He was a bit rebellious and cheeky and it was great fun talking to a puppet. I was sitting on the sofa talking to a lump of cloth and the person who was working him was at my feet. Great memories."

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