Rhod Gilbert marks major cancer milestone as he shares ‘dying alone’ fear

Rhod Gilbert returned to comedy for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer, using his trademark black humour to reveal his biggest fear.

The comedian, 55, opened Channel 4’s Stand Up to Cancer: The Takeover on Friday and in his monologue joked that ‘dying on stage’ was preferable to ‘dying alone on a hospital floor.’

He quipped: ‘Tonight’s show is coming from you completely live, and although the prospect of dying on stage in front of millions of viewers is terrifying. 

‘For the last year, I’ve been more scared of dying alone on a hospital floor in a pool of my own urine.’

As the audience vocalised their sadness over the remark, Rhod continued: ‘You don’t have to aw me! I’m alright about and you should be too. 

Rhod Gilbert opened a Stand Up To Cancer comedy special on Channel 4 (Picture: Shutterstock/Channel 4)

Rhod returned to TV comedy for the first time since his cancer diagnosis (Picture: Shutterstock for Channel Four)

‘Being a live show it can go either way, which are incidentally also the words my doctors used this time last year.

‘I’m here because for the last year, I’ve had cancer and now I don’t! It was in my tonsils, neck, and tongue.’

Rhod has been gradually stepping back into the limelight since being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer last year.

The Welsh star was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer last year (Picture: PA)

Earlier this week, he was inundated with support from BBC viewers after giving his first TV interview since being diagnosed.

On The One Show, Rhod gave an update, saying proudly that he’s ‘happy to be alive’, but also said he would always have ‘symptoms.’

‘I’ll always have symptoms and things, from head and neck cancer, the treatment’s quite rough, there’ll always be the niggly symptoms but, broadly, I feel wonderful!’ he said.

He has since undergone treatment and said he had received ‘clear’ scans (Picture: BBC)

Rhod also announced his huge tour comeback with a massive lineup of dates that are set to run well into 2025. 

Titled Rhod Gilbert And The Giant Grapefruit, Rhod will start performing gigs next year in January 2024 and tell his last joke in November of the following year. 

He shared that he planned to complete 110 dates by the end of the run with his agent confirming: ‘It’s a show about navigating the dark bits and turning life’s giant grapefruits into something approaching lemonade’. 

Rhod recently announced a massive 110-date comedy tour (Picture: Rhod Gilbert)

After being diagnosed with cancer, the Welsh star shared that he was undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, a hospital he’d fundraised for and supported for 10 years.

At the time, he assured fans he was in the ‘best possible hands’ and praised the ‘incredible’ NHS staff looking after him.

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Later in October, Rhod said received his first clear scan – describing it as the best day of my life.

Stand Up to Cancer: The Takeover is available to stream on Channel 4.

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Rhod has been gradually stepping back into the limelight.