Rhod Gilbert makes an emotional return to comedy to host Stand Up To Cancer's roast after receiving...

On Friday, Rhod Gilbert had a sentimental comeback to television when he presented the Channel 4 program called Stand Up to Cancer: The Takeover.

The 55-year-old comedian discovered a lump in April 2022 and was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. He received treatment at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, where he had been supporting fundraising efforts for 10 years prior to his diagnosis.

He started the comedy roast at The Francis Crick Institute in London by making some amusing remarks about his recent experience after being declared free of the disease. The audience was present in person for the show.

He started off by saying: "This evening's broadcast is completely live, and even though the idea of perishing on stage in front of a huge audience is scary."

'Over the past year, I have developed an increased fear of passing away all by myself on the floor of a hospital, surrounded by my own urine.'

After a period of absence, Rhod Gilbert, who is 55 years old, came back to television on Friday. He presented the Channel 4 show Stand Up to Cancer: The Takeover, which was emotionally significant.

When the listeners reacted, he retaliated by saying, "No need to be astonished at me! I'm perfectly fine, and so should you."

As it's a live performance, things can go in any direction, by the way, these happen to be the same phrases that my physicians used at this very time last year," he teased.

I am writing this blog to share my recent victory over cancer. It had been troubling me for the past year, but I am glad to announce that I have successfully defeated it. The cancer was spread across my tonsils, neck, and tongue, but with the right treatment and care, I was able to overcome it.

Davina McCall had the honor of starting the live show together with Adam Hills, Joe Lycett, and Munya Chawawa as co-hosts.

Channel 4 provided 90 minutes of amusing content and melodies with Rita Ora as the star performer for the night's enjoyment.

Numerous famous individuals graced the program such as Oti Mabuse, a dancer from Strictly, and Cush Jumbo, an actress recognized for her performance in The Good Wife.

After the program, a fresh installment of Celebrity Gogglebox and a thrilling ending of Don't Look Down with Paddy McGuinness aired.

The night came to a close with The SU2C Comedy Roast, which was hosted by Rhod.

Spreading knowledge: The funny person discovered a bump in April 2022 and was later identified with cancer affecting the head and neck area. The treatment was conducted in Velindre Cancer Centre located in Cardiff.

Feeling improved: He participated in a live studio audience at The Francis Crick Institute located in London where he initiated the show's comedy roast by providing amusing observations about his recent dilemma.

During the past decade, Rhod has generated nearly £2 million towards cancer treatment and investigation.

While on a charity hike, he experienced some indications that were later confirmed as indicators of head and neck cancer.

The story of Rhod's journey has been documented in his upcoming TV program called Rhod Gilbert: A Pain In The Neck, which will be aired on Channel 4.

The show traces the life of the man from Wales, starting from when he learned about his illness and the medical procedures he underwent, all documented in personal video journals.

Rhod talked about why he chose to document his fight against cancer in a video. He shared that he was in bed on a Friday, and he was going to start his treatment on the coming Monday.

I called up my acquaintances in the team who were not affiliated with any broadcasting company. It was merely a proposition on my part. I asked them if they would be interested in accompanying me on this adventure.

Some of it was for my own benefit. I had put a stop to all my TV commitments and shows, and I desired to add something other than the word "cancer" to my schedule.

I was aware that I wasn't in good shape to perform on stage or TV. However, I contemplated that I could possibly have the strength to rest in my bed and hold a conversation with a group filming a documentary about my sickness. I believed that this would be an activity to keep me occupied.

The documentary will be broadcasted on Monday October 30th as a component of Channel 4's Stand Up To Cancer initiative.

At the beginning of the year, Rhod disclosed that he discovered a tumour in his neck "ironically" while he was in Cuba participating in a charity trek to support the Velindre Cancer Centre. Afterwards, he himself became a patient at the aforementioned centre.

He made a heartfelt speech during the National Comedy Awards, which aimed to support Stand Up 2 Cancer. This marked his first on-screen appearance since his diagnosis in February.

During the pre-recorded part of the show from his house, he shared that he had difficulty articulating his words or inhaling air because he came across a bump on his neck.

Rhod expressed that he had great difficulty communicating and taking in air during tour performances. He unfortunately had to reschedule or completely cancel some shows due to this ailment. Additionally, he experienced severe contractions in his facial muscles and a significant amount of tension throughout his entire body.

I wasn't able to figure out what was going on, but then it was discovered that the lump in my neck was actually head and neck cancer. This type of cancer affects parts of the head and is a very serious matter.

Homecoming: After a few months of absence due to health reasons, he finally graced the screens again with his presence. It was a momentous event as he delivered a heartfelt speech during the National Comedy Awards. The said awards ceremony aimed to raise funds for Stand Up 2 Cancer.

Honest: When talking on the recorded segment from his residence, he admitted he faced difficulty in both speaking and breathing when he discovered a lump on his neck.

Rhod confessed that he was displeased with his diagnosis, saying it made him angry. He also made a lighthearted comment about how he assumed that being a patron for a cancer center for a decade would grant him immunity from the disease for life.

The person shared that they have organized five trips to raise funds in different locations across the globe. They have also organized comedy performances and quizzes to raise cash. Fundraising has been an important aspect of their life for a decade. Their mind was completely blown when they got diagnosed with cancer.

This really annoyed me since I believed that I would have lifelong protection, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

It seems that even if you spend your time raising funds for a cancer hospital, you are still at risk of getting cancer. However, I personally experienced this and realized that cancer can affect anyone regardless of their activities.

He said, "It's funny how things work out sometimes. I went to Cuba on a hiking trip to raise funds for a cancer center, and guess what? I discovered a lump on my neck while I was there. So, I went to Cuba as a supporter of the center and returned as a patient in need of their help."

Rhod recently declared his intention to make a comeback on stage. He's currently working on organizing a comedic tour set for the year 2024, stating that "life is too brief" to put it off any longer.

He had his tour, Book Of John, from 2019 until June of 2023, but there were times of interruption because of his health and the pandemic.

During a conversation on BBC Radio Wales, Rhod expressed his sincere appreciation towards the Velindre Cancer Centre for aiding him in his recovery and helping him regain his strength.

He stated: 'I have adopted a new mindset that life is brief, and we must proceed and accomplish our objectives.'

He went on to say: 'I have been writing down my thoughts, I have a couple of concepts and I have been experimenting with some material.'

I believe that I will embark on another tour in the upcoming year, as everything is slowly falling into place.

Return to the Stage: In the previous month, Rhod made it known that he intends to make a comeback on stage and is currently working out the details for his comedy tour set to happen in 2024. He acknowledged that 'life is too short' to hold back. (Photo taken in 2018)

Rhod has expressed that he plans to utilize his cancer diagnosis in his standup routine. He constantly thinks about his cancer, but he believes that there are comedic elements to it.

He revealed to The Guardian that he feels strange and unsure about discussing his battle with cancer. He has yet to figure out how much to share and what to say about the experience.

Nowadays, I am highly conscious of my mental well-being and I make sure to assess myself regularly. Surprisingly enough, I am doing well. I am content, positive and confident that everything will turn out well in the upcoming year.

Once I overcome this illness, the upcoming performance will have a comparable style. The illness occupies my thoughts every minute of the day, yet whenever I am feeling better, I take down some notes. Additionally, the notes contain amusing content.

Head And Neck Cancer: An Overview

The term 'head and neck cancer' refers to cancers that can occur in different parts of the head and neck, including the nose, mouth, throat, voice box, thyroid, and salivary glands.

In the United Kingdom, there are more than 12,000 instances of this disease identified annually, rendering it the eighth most typical type of cancer.

Cancer can occur in over 30 different locations in the head and neck, such as the mouth, lips, larynx, pharynx, and salivary glands.

The most frequently occurring form of head and neck cancer is mouth cancer, which can be distinguished from laryngeal cancer that emerges in the tissue surrounding the voice box.

Typically, cancers like thyroid, brain, eye, and oesophageal are not grouped under the category of head and neck cancers.