Entertainment
Ground Force star in cancer scare after ‘sudden axe from BBC show’-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro
Tommy Walsh has revealed he has a tumour.
![Ground Force star in cancer scare after ‘sudden axe from BBC show’-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SEI_188113880-716f.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024)
Tommy Walsh has found a tumour in his lung (Picture: BBC)
Television’s Tommy Walsh has revealed he’s facing a fresh cancer scare after doctors found a tumour in his lung.
The Ground Force star, 67, has explained how he required urgent treatment after it was discovered in a scan for an unrelated complaint.
Speaking at a conference for The Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Charity at the end of November, the TV personality and builder said he had ‘tried to keep cheerful’ in the wake of the worrying news.
‘I have an urgent, emergency appointment at 9am tomorrow morning back in London,’ he told guests in the audience at the end of his talk, in what he termed ‘an unfortunate postscript’.
‘I had a chest infection again, had to go to the doctor and they sent me up to the hospital for a CT scan and they think there’s a three-centimetre tumour in the lung.’
Tommy continued during the video on YouTube: ‘I’ve been trying to keep cheerful, and you’ve cheered me up today anyway, and thank you for letting me reminisce and talk.’
The builder first rose to fame on Ground Force with Charlie Dimmock and Alan Titchmarsh (Picture: BBC)
He has built a successful TV career over various different shows and three decades (Picture: BBC)
Tommy shared the news during a talk he gave around his past throat cancer experience (Picture: YouTube)
‘I had to weigh up whether or not I was going to tell you about this, but I felt it would be unfair if I was to leave this and I didn’t tell you,’ he admitted.
‘That’s why I’m going to have to leave after this talk and I won’t be able to join you for a few beers tonight.
‘But I would hope and would be really pleased if you would have a few on my behalf and I’ll keep my fingers crossed, and if you wouldn’t mind keeping your fingers crossed for me.’
The Homes Under the Hammer presenter has yet to make a public statement on the outcome of his scan, but it comes just days after he was reportedly dropped from the show – which he has hosted since 2021.
It came after reports he had been dropped from current show Homes Under the Hammer (Picture: BBC)
A source said the changes have been made as producers wanted a ‘makeover’ to ‘keep younger viewers interested.’
Tommy reportedly filmed his final scenes last year, while his rumoured replacement, former weather presenter Owain Wyn Evans, 39, is said to have already begun shooting the beloved DIY programme.
Speaking about the shake-up, a source said: ‘Bosses wanted a makeover to keep younger viewers interested.
‘They have been keen to get Owain onto one of their popular shows for a while — he will add a new dynamic.’
They continued to The Sun: ‘The upcoming series will feature both Tommy and Owain as there is a three-month lag with the house makeovers, so there is some crossover.’
Weather presenter Owain Wyn Evans is said to be replacing him (Picture: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock)
It’s also not Tommy’s first experience with cancer, after he was diagnosed with throat cancer during the pandemic.
The father-of-three, who’s been married to wife Marie for over 30 years, revealed in a 2022 cancer awareness campaign: ‘I went to my GP about an unrelated issue and while I was there, he discovered this lump in my throat that he was a bit concerned about.
‘He said it may be nothing but that he would rather I went and got it checked and, unfortunately, it turned out to be cancerous.
‘I had to go in straight away and have surgery to remove it. I am now fully recovered and even back playing football.’
Tommy has also recently appeared on Clean It, Fix it for the BBC (Picture: BBC/Curve Media Ltd/Gary Moyes)
The disease and subsequent radiotherapy treatment caused him to lose four stone in weight, however, with Tommy confirming at November’s talk that he’d put almost half of it back on and now weighed the same as on his wedding day.
In 2002, he had his first cancer scare when he had a benign tumour removed from his chest which he feared was breast cancer after his aunt and sister experiences with it.
Builder by trade Tommy first shot to fame after appearing alongside Alan Titchmarsh on BBC gardening show Ground Force from 1997 until 2005.
His other TV credits include Flip That House with Tommy Walsh, Celebrity Fit Club, Fix Your House for Free and The Reclaimers.
Metro.co.uk has contacted a rep for Tommy Walsh for comment. The BBC was previously contacted for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Vince McMahon accused of assault and sex trafficking by WWE staffer ‘he paid to keep quiet’
Entertainment – MetroRead More