Wayne Sleep, the 78-year-old dancer, choreographer and actor, has revealed he is undergoing treatment for cancer. The star addressed fans' concerns after they commented on his recent appearance, sharing an update on social media alongside a photo of himself in Kew Gardens.
Treatment underway since the summer
In his post, Sleep said: 'A few people have commented that I haven't been looking quite my usual self recently, so I thought I would share an update.' The photo, taken on Friday, shows him wrapped up in a jacket and woolly hat at the Henry Moore exhibition in Kew Gardens.
He wrote: 'Since the summer, I have been undergoing treatment for cancer. I'm pleased to say that the treatment appears to be working, and I am on the mend thanks to all at the Royal Marsden and am looking forward to getting back to full strength.'
Positive outlook and past diagnosis
Sleep did not disclose further details of his diagnosis or treatment plan but confirmed he is 'in good spirits and feeling positive about the future'. He thanked fans for their 'kindness and concern', signing off with 'Much love, Wayne x'. Supporters flooded the comments with well-wishes for a 'speedy recovery'.
The news comes 11 years after Sleep was diagnosed with prostate cancer. At the time, he said the words shook him 'to the core'. He opted for brachytherapy rather than radiotherapy, which would have meant missing filming for The Real Marigold Hotel in India. He is now an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK.
Career highlights and TV appearances
Sleep began dancing after his mother enrolled him at Geraldine Lamb Dance School, where he studied tap and jazz, aiming to emulate Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. He went on to create the role of Mr. Mistoffelees in Cats in London's West End and appeared in films including The First Great Train Robbery (1979) and The Tales of Beatrix Potter (1971).
He has also appeared in pantomimes, danced with Princess Diana in 1985, and was portrayed by a dancer in Netflix's The Crown. Sleep competed in the second series of I'm A Celebrity in 2003, took part in The Real Full Monty in 2017 to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer, and finished fifth in Celebrity Big Brother the following year.
