Comedian and actor Alan Davies has shared a significant health update with fans, detailing the crucial symptom that prompted his bladder cancer diagnosis in 2024. The star, renowned for his roles in Jonathan Creek and the panel show QI, opened up about his experience during an interview on the Jonathan Ross chat show, set to air on Saturday, 4 April.
Key Symptom That Triggered Diagnosis
Davies, now 60, explained that he first realised something was amiss when he noticed a small amount of blood in the toilet bowl. "In 2024, I had bladder cancer. Luckily, [there was] a little bit of blood in the toilet bowl and I saw it," he recounted. This observation led him to seek medical attention, ultimately resulting in the diagnosis.
Treatment and Recovery Process
He underwent a flexible cystoscopy procedure to remove the tumour, describing it as "not very nice and not as bad as you think." Fortunately, the operation was successful, and Davies has since received the all-clear from his doctors. "They got it out, so phew," he added, expressing relief at the outcome.
Return to Stand-Up and Touring
Following his recovery, Davies has returned to touring with his first stand-up show in a decade, titled Think Ahead. He admitted to initial doubts about audience turnout, saying, "I didn't know if anyone would come. It's a bit like having a party. But people did come, and a lot of them had grey hair and hadn't been out for ages." The tour marks a departure for Davies, as he now addresses serious topics he had previously avoided in public.
Embracing Honesty in Comedy
Davies revealed that his material has become "richer" and "better" by incorporating themes such as grief and abuse. "This is the first stand-up show where I've been able to talk about these difficult subjects," he stated. Emphasising the importance of openness, he continued, "Let's not have shame, let's all talk, talk, talk. You have to make it funny – very funny before it and really funny after it. If the show was a cake, this has got all the ingredients in. It's a richer and better experience."
Background and Critical Reception
Davies first disclosed his childhood sexual abuse in his 2020 memoir, Just Ignore Him, followed by another memoir, White Male Stand-Up, published last year. His new tour has garnered positive reviews, with The Guardian awarding it four stars and praising it as a "striking new show, a cross-section of the 59-year-old's life now that reveals parts his previous shows couldn't reach." Davies also humorously noted that he now spends "more time in the pharmacy than in the gym," reflecting on his ongoing health journey.
