Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert was forced to cancel a performance of his 'Rhod Gilbert and the Giant Grapefruit' tour in Salisbury at short notice on Sunday after a personal bereavement.
Sudden Cancellation Announcement
The cancellation was announced just hours before the comedian was due on stage at the Salisbury venue. A statement posted to his official social media accounts at 2pm on Sunday conveyed the sad news.
The post read: 'We are sorry to announce that due to a bereavement in the early hours of this morning tonight's Rhod Gilbert performance in Salisbury is unable to go ahead.' It went on to assure ticket holders that the show would be rescheduled and that all purchased tickets would remain valid for the new date.
The message asked fans for patience while the new date is arranged, concluding: 'Please bear with us whilst we arrange the rescheduled date. We are very sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding.'
A Challenging Period for the Comedian
This is not the first recent disruption to Gilbert's tour schedule. Last month, the comedian was also forced to cancel three dates in Scarborough, Middlesbrough, and Limerick after struggling with a 'nasty winter bug.'
His current show, which has been touring for a year, is a deeply personal one. Gilbert describes it as navigating 'the dark bits' and is 'about turning life’s giant grapefruits into something approaching lemonade.'
Triumph Over Adversity
The 57-year-old star's recent life story heavily informs his material. Rhod Gilbert was diagnosed with Stage 4 head and neck cancer in 2022, a journey he documented in a moving Channel 4 documentary.
After undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff – where he had been a fundraising patron for a decade prior to his diagnosis – he received the all-clear in October 2023.
Speaking about his health in April 2024, Gilbert provided a positive update: 'Still all clear. Still in the care of the wonderful Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. I get checked every few weeks but still all clear.'
He added, 'I feel wonderful. I've got lots of issues that I may or may not have for the rest of my life, who knows. Who cares! I'm here, I'm good and every night, I'm on stage pinching myself that I'm doing this. That I'm on stage performing just now two years after being diagnosed.'
Since his cancer diagnosis, Gilbert has made significant lifestyle changes, cutting down on alcohol and maintaining his non-smoking status after quitting years ago. He reflects that his experience has left him wanting to 'grab life by the short and curlies.'
