First Dates star Merlin Griffiths has shared an update on his cancer treatment, explaining that he suffered a frustrating ‘setback’ recently.
The barman and TV star, who has become a total fan favourite on the show, announced he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer last September.
Chatting to Metro.co.uk ahead of the new series of First Dates Hotel starting tonight, Merlin explained: ‘I was operated on in April, late April, as you might recall.
‘It’s been a long, slow road to recovery. I got myself up and around [because] you’re supposed to do what’s called active recovery these days.’
Hailing the NHS as ‘amazing’ after getting him home in six days after his surgery, Merlin continued: ‘That was all going well. I had a minor setback so I was in for a couple of procedures.’
He added that undergoing radiotherapy (a treatment where radiation is used to kill cancer cells) ‘means my body doesn’t heal the same way it used to unfortunately.’
‘So now I’m under strict surgeon’s orders not to overdo it so active recovery takes a backseat. So the last six to eight weeks have been quite frustrating, largely having to cool my heels and not being able to do what I’d like to do.
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‘But otherwise, we are getting better. It’s a long, slow road, as anyone who’s going through cancer treatment knows.’
Bringing his signature optimism and positivity to the situation, Merlin added: ‘You deal with it, don’t you? You keep smiling and there is light at the end of the tunnel, there always is.’
He’s certainly not been dealing with it alone, however, revealing that the First Dates team, including Fred Sirieix and Cici Coleman, have been incredibly supportive.
‘They’ve been brilliant. Fred and I chat very regularly, at least once a month we’re on the phone and he constantly texts me as well, to get little updates to see what’s going on. Likewise with Cici and Grant and David and Daniella, they all check in with me as well, which is lovely,’ he said.
‘It’s nice to know they care. It’s important. It makes me feel much better.
Merlin is, of course, returning for the new series of First Dates: Hotel – and we’ve got a lot to look forward to.
‘It’s the variety of people!’ he enthused. ‘We’ve got twins, there’s a history teacher, a chef, a candle-maker, a mathematician, a master of ceremonies, there’s a pretty broad spectrum of people coming on.’
While he’s keeping quiet on the biggest moments of the series, he went on: ‘It’s exciting every time we do it, but Hotel even more so because it’s so much more involving than what we do in the restaurant.
‘You’re taking people away and treating them day and night rather than just over the course of an evening meal.’
‘It’s a privilege to be behind that bar,’ he reflected of his very unique job.
‘It’s a rare look at us as human beings – I quickly realised a couple of years in, there is no such thing as normal. We’re all unique in our own weird and wonderful way and, any issues one had before about self-confidence and self-doubt, and do I conform and do I fit in? Spending enough time on First Dates has taught me that’s not an issue at all. People are just brilliant all round and you have to take it as is.’
As for the future of the show?
‘I’m quite happy to continue doing it, I absolutely love it,’ Merlin continued.
‘What do I hope for the future of First Dates? More First Dates! Why not? I mean, love is one of these eternal constants. It’s an endless subject that’s endlessly fascinating.’
First Dates: Hotel returns to Channel 4 tonight at 9pm.
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