Overview

• Theakston was diagnosed with Stage 1 laryngeal cancer in September 2024 after listeners spotted a change in his voice.
• He opted for three successive surgeries to remove cancerous lesions and scar tissue rather than radiotherapy.
• In January 2025 he was declared cancer-free but still attends monthly surgeon visits with plans to space them out over the coming year.
• Accepting the award on June 24 at Grosvenor House, he confessed he once feared he wouldn’t live to stand on that stage.
• He initially kept his diagnosis from his wife and children and says the ordeal has made him a more thoughtful parent and broadcaster.