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BBC presenter Reggie Yates has revealed he has suffered a cancer scare after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour from his hand.
The Radio 1 star, 42, explained that last year he endured one of the ‘hardest moments’ of his life but has ‘learned a lot’ after finding the lump.
Reggie said he is now ready to ‘celebrate the battles won’ and is ready to ‘heal and move on’ from the cancer scare.
Writing on his Substack on Sunday, he said: ‘I was wearing my own little lump of uncertainty. A Tumour.
‘A collection of cells that could be benign or cancerous. Then followed a fun week of waiting to find out which version of lump my body decided to grow. I wasn’t ashamed, I was a willing participant in an uncoupling.’
Reggie, known for presenting the likes of Top of the Pops, said that while he was scared, he struggled not to laugh while wearing a hospital gown and compression socks.
BBC presenter Reggie Yates has revealed he has suffered a cancer scare after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour from his hand
The Radio 1 star explained that last year he endured one of the ‘hardest moments’ of his life but has ‘learned a lot’ after finding the lump
He added: ‘You learn a lot about who you’re becoming when you go from fears of losing the use of your hand in February, to delivering your publisher a novel typed by that same hand in December…’
Sharing the news on Instagram, Reggie penned: ‘NEW YEAR, OLD TUMOUR… Funny what you can learn from a little lump of cells.’
Fans and friends rushed to the comments to send messages of support to Reggie, they wrote: ‘I hope it’s a year of healing recovery and abundance;
‘Angel, I’ll read, had no idea. Thinking of you – truly hope you’re okay; Here’s to healing; Wishing you a very healthy 2026 (and beyond, obviously!);
‘cheers to new year more health, brother xx; Very important to celebrate the silent battles won. Thanks for the reminde;
‘Get well soon mate! We’ve got a highly significant year ahead of us!; All the best with your recovery’.
Reggie, who made his first television appearance aged just eight, went on to become one of the nation’s most well-known broadcasters – appearing on Radio 1 and fronting several BBC documentaries.
Reggie said he is now ready to ‘celebrate the battles won’ and is ready to ‘heal and move on’ from the cancerscare; pictured 2018
Fans and friends rushed to the comments to send messages of support to Reggie, they wrote: ‘I hope it’s a year of healing recovery’
Reflecting on his career, he previously told The Guardian: ‘The first interview I did as a presenter was on Top of the Pops. I spoke to Sting, and for some reason, I had dressed in a brown corduroy suit from Topshop with matching sneakers. I also had a crap tash and braids.
‘I was like, ‘Hi Mr Sting’, and asked him the dumbest questions. I remember him looking at me like, ‘Who is this guy? Get me out of here.’ There were lots of those awkward moments growing up on TV, but I can’t feel too embarrassed as I was just a baby.’
But having been on television for over three decades, Reggie admitted he now has a ‘thick skin’ and no longer worries about judgment or criticism.
He added: ‘The best part of my life now as a writer and director is the variety. One day I can be making a documentary about racism, and the next day I’ll be doing the voice of Rastamouse. I can make silly comedy films.’
