Tony Robinson, best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC sitcom Blackadder, has spoken candidly about living with prostate cancer for the past 14 years. The 79-year-old actor, who undergoes regular MRI scans to monitor the condition, described the disease as 'vile' and called for an end to the stigma that prevents men from seeking testing.
Living with Prostate Cancer for Over a Decade
Robinson revealed his diagnosis during an appearance on A Night In With Sally Lindsay. 'I've been living with prostate cancer for 13 or 14 years now, and it's always been fine, but I do have these checks,' he said. He emphasised that while his own health remains stable, the fear of invasive examinations deters many men from getting tested.
The actor noted that outdated perceptions persist: 'The problem has always been that blokes think that if they are threatened with prostate cancer, they are going to have the doctor's finger up their bum.' He explained that this method is no longer standard practice, and that he himself only discovered this change a year ago.
Campaigning for Awareness
Robinson criticised the lack of awareness around modern testing methods. 'I only knew about a year ago that doctors don't use that check anymore,' he said. 'If I don't know that, and so many men are so disturbed by that idea, then I wanna get out there.' He contacted the Prostate Cancer UK charity and volunteered to spread the word on local radio.
Most men now receive an MRI scan every couple of years, Robinson explained, likening the checks to the medical assessments actors undergo before starting a new job. 'Those checks are brilliant, though. They box tick everything. It's such a vile disease. If it really gets going, the idea of being 'Oh I don't want anyone messing there,' it's foolish - it's not being grown up and foolish, it's madness.'
Prostate Cancer Symptoms and Treatment
The NHS states that prostate cancer predominantly affects men over 50. Symptoms include difficulty urinating, weak flow, urgency, frequent nighttime urination, erectile dysfunction, blood in urine or semen, and unexplained weight loss. Treatment options range from active surveillance to surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy, depending on the cancer's progression.
Reflecting on Blackadder
Robinson previously described his role in Blackadder as a 'blessing,' telling The Independent: 'Incredible. What a blessing is that? I might worry a bit about being short, but landing that part in the cult comedy series of the century, to be surrounded by those wonderful artists, as I was for 10 years...' He credited writer Richard Curtis as a major influence on his own writing.
For support and advice, visit Macmillan Cancer Support or Prostate Cancer UK.
