Bill Turnbull saved a BBC Breakfast colleague's life by going public with his prostate cancer diagnosis, Louise Minchin has revealed.
The BBC Breakfast presenter paid tribute to her co-star in a special tribute version of the show today, and recalled how Bill had such an effect on people around him. She revealed he managed to save one of his colleague's lives because of his decision to go public as she remembered him following his sad death yesterday at the age of 66.
Bill was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and went public with his battle the following year. He was known best to viewers because of his hosting duties on BBC Breakfast, which he took the helm of from 2001 until 2016.
Whilst going public no doubt helped many, there was one person it helped close to home.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast today for a special tribute on the show, Louise said: "There's one thing that's been really emotional to me in the last 24 hours and just standing here today, there's a key example.
"Bill was very private about his family and his lovely wife and his children, for which he was so proud. But he took that brave decision to talk about his diagnosis of prostate cancer and it saved lives."
She added: "I'm standing here today with a cameraman called Bernard who went and got checked because of what Bill said. He had an aggressive form of prostate cancer, it was caught, he had an operation and he's here with me because of Bill."
Naga Munchetty, who was hosting the tribute show alongside Charlie Stayt, revealed she was chatting about Bill on the radio yesterday and someone said they would be getting a check because of Bill's honesty about his own diagnosis.
Bill's heartbroken wife Sarah, known as Sesi, released a statement read out on BBC Breakfast on Thursday.
Reading it out, Naga shared Sarah's words, which 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."
She added: "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."
