Bill Turnbull said the days after his cancer diagnosis were the “worst of my life” in a heartbreaking video unearthed following his shock death aged 66.
The popular BBC Breakfast presenter died yesterday evening after an almost five-year battle with advanced prostate cancer, his family confirmed.
He appeared on the early-morning BBC show from 2001 until 2016 and was diagnosed with cancer back in 2017 – going public the following year.
Bill's heartbroken wife Sesi released a statement, read out on BBC Breakfast this morning, as the family announced he had passed away at his home in Suffolk on Wednesday.
An emotional Naga Munchetty read: "Our lovely Billy died yesterday evening. Almost five years after being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.
"The last week of his life was very special as the whole family was with him and they shared some wonderful moments.
"Although Bill was often in pain, he was dignified and brave throughout and he was his usual determined self right until the very end.
“He made us laugh everyday. We are immensely proud of him. He was the heart of our family. It's hard to imagine life without him."
Now, an unearthed video filmed in 2018 for Channel 4 ’s Stand Up To Cancer shows Bill detailing the days that followed his shock cancer diagnosis.
He explained that he almost ignored the symptoms before finally seeing his GP – saying that he wished he had gone to the doctor sooner.
After his GP told him he has cancer, and that it had spread to the bone, he said: “I thought now I’ve got to deal with the future of having much less of a future than I thought I had.”
He explained: “And then this, like, dark cloud comes down. So, it’s a very difficult moment and those first few days after diagnosis are really horrible. Probably the worst days of my life.”
Bill went on to praise the love he received from his family, saying it was that emotional love that got him through day to day.
He added: “But if you’re lucky like I am, you have friends who show you great love and warmth and support. And that love has really kept us afloat.
“I remember my daughter came in and I said ‘Well, got to tell you, I’ve got cancer’ and I had to tell my sons on the phone.
“We all cried. If I’d had a test a few years ago, we would of diagnosed it earlier, knocked it on the head earlier and my survival possibilities would be a lot better.”
Speaking about his “amazing life”, Bill explained that he wouldn’t feel upset if his life was to end.
He said: “If it was all to end tomorrow, I would not feel hard done by because I’ve had an amazing life.
“I’ve been incredibly lucky and if one thing comes out of this, it’s that actually, if you know that your time is limited, you appreciate so much more the world around you and particularly the love of my family.”
