I’m fighting cancer, Danny Baker announces to fans over Facebook

BBC DJ Danny Baker today revealed he has cancer.

He made the announcement following weeks of speculation over why he has been absent from his weekly radio show. The married father-of-three was starting chemotherapy today and radiotherapy in January.

On his Facebook page, the BBC Radio 5 Live pundit, 53, apologised to listeners for keeping his illness under wraps. He wrote: "As it appears this is going to continue for the foreseeable, I really ought to offer up some sort of breadcrumbs trail as to what's going on — as you know I am queasy about introducing vulgar real life on to the vaudeville stage so let's keep this crisp.

"After a pretty mouldy diagnosis about a month back, I finally begin chemotherapy with further radiotherapy from January. Yes, radiotherapy; can you beat it?"

Despite the diagnosis, Baker remained upbeat. He said: "Once the quacks have soundly thrashed this thing I shall return like a rare gas and as if out of a trap."

He urged his listeners to "keep yakking up a storm and laugh extra loud" at the guest presenters for his shows.

Baker added: "Thank you all for the best wishes and concern from those who suspected as much about my condition'. So. Manly handshake. Walk right on. In the words of King George, What what and there it is...'."

Hundreds of well-wishers posted messages of support on social networking sites expressing their shock and sympathy for the Saturday morning presenter, who also hosts a weekday afternoon show on BBC London. Among them was Chris Moyles, who wrote on Twitter: "Just heard about Danny Baker. A genuine god amongst broadcasters. Really hope he gets through this and back on air, soon."

His agent would not reveal what type of cancer he has been diagnosed with, but said: "He is in great spirits and doing really well.

"He's doing everything his doctors are asking him to do. He's being a good boy."

Baker, who lives in south-east London, shot to fame in the Eighties when he worked as a reporter on the LWT programme The Six O'Clock Show.