Gransnet forums

News & politics

Bill Turnbull has died

(38 Posts)
Smileless2012 Thu 01-Sept-22 09:08:40

Just heard this on BBC breakfast.

RIP flowers.

sodapop Thu 01-Sept-22 15:30:49

Bill Turnbull was a great presenter and came across a really caring person. Apparently going public with his prostate cancer diagnosis greatly boosted the number of men having tests. I always enjoyed his interaction with Louise Minchin.
RIP Bill thanks

Greyduster Thu 01-Sept-22 13:18:38

I just heard this and am deeply saddened. He’d just come back onto Classic fm and I thought he was getting better. He was a wonderful broadcaster and a thoroughly nice man. I remember the Children in Need Around the World in Eighty Days when he did the fourth leg with Louise Minchin. They were absolutely hilarious and it was a pleasure to watch them.
RIP Bill; you will be missed.

henetha Thu 01-Sept-22 12:48:48

Thank you Silver linings, so much.
Good idea to contact prostate UK.
It's just that I didn't realise the treatment went on so long. And he's not telling me the result of recent tests, hence my concerns.

lemsip Thu 01-Sept-22 12:14:33

sadly the cancer was advanced when he was diagnosed after a blood test that was taken because he went to the GP with aches and pains in his legs!

muse Thu 01-Sept-22 12:13:49

I remember his heartfelt plea on Stand Up to Cancer Bake off show 2017 when he had been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. He hadn't wanted to bother his doctor with the pains he was getting in his legs. He plea was for all men to get the test.

Sadly missed. A lovely man.

tanith Thu 01-Sept-22 11:28:52

Sad that he’s gone, so young too, he always came across as a lovely person.

Calendargirl Thu 01-Sept-22 11:06:33

Only heard him on Classic FM quite recently, and thought, “Oh good, he must be doing ok”.

Watched a documentary about how he was coping with his prostate cancer, it showed him dealing with it, the good days and the bad.

Thought he looked to have a loving, caring, supportive wife and family.

A sad loss.

Harris27 Thu 01-Sept-22 11:03:20

Lovely man fond memories of him.

silverlining48 Thu 01-Sept-22 11:01:40

Henetha as far as I know hormone treatment before radiotherapy is normal. I am sure your brother is getting the correct treatment, but do understand how difficult it is when a loved one is in another country, so if you have questions why not ring Prostate UK. They should be helpful.
My dh was diagnosed the same year as Bill Turnbull. That’s got me thinking. about what might have been.
Suppose that’s why I am wanting others to know how important it is fir men to get tested.

Jaxjacky Thu 01-Sept-22 10:43:55

Very sad, I enjoyed his presenting. RIP.

toscalily Thu 01-Sept-22 10:32:41

Sad news indeed, taken too young.

annodomini Thu 01-Sept-22 10:21:07

Some years ago, when Channel 4 started its Stand Up to Cancer series, Bill Turnbull spoke very movingly about his (then) recent diagnosis. I think this might have been the first time we heard of it. A brave and inspiring man who encouraged others to be tested and may have saved many lives.

Kalu Thu 01-Sept-22 10:18:38

Very sad news. He came across as a lovely decent human being.
66 is no age at all. I enjoyed listening to him on Classic FM and as a newsreader.

Marydoll Thu 01-Sept-22 10:17:48

I am so sad to hear this.

Many years ago, the morning after Glasgow airport had been the subject of a terrorist attack, we were waiting outside the airport, hoping our flight would actually take off, when Bill Turnbull walked by us, he was reporting for the BBC.
A friend texted to say, she had just seen me on TV, next to Bill Turnbull!

henetha Thu 01-Sept-22 10:10:36

Sorry. Didn't mean to highjack this thread about lovely Bill Turnbull.

henetha Thu 01-Sept-22 10:02:50

Thank you Silverlining48. I am very concerned at the length of time the treatment has been going on. First he had hormone treatment, then radiotherapy, and now he has just started on chemo. Does it usually take this long ?

Ailidh Thu 01-Sept-22 09:59:52

???

I'm sad to hear it. He had a great presenting style on the news programme: he didn't seem to take himself too seriously but he took the news items seriously, unlike some of the cacophonous presenters who followed him.

Urmstongran Thu 01-Sept-22 09:59:03

Yes. A PSA blood test for men.
Mind you, years ago my husband requested one & it came back negative. The lovely GP did say though that ‘unless there were symptoms’ it was borderline whether treatment would be a worse option. He advised caution. Thankfully Himself has never had symptoms so never went back for a test.

My stepfather on the other hand had aggressive treatment for prostate cancer when he was in his mid-60s. He will be 90y old next month. Like many things in life it’s the luck of the draw. Genetics, what stage when diagnosed etc.

Anyway.

RIP sir. A good egg by all accounts. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

silverlining48 Thu 01-Sept-22 09:55:50

That was why I wrote about my dh. I actually made the appointment for him as he never would have done so himself.
I wish your brother well henetha.

henetha Thu 01-Sept-22 09:50:33

Bill was a lovely gentle presenter and I admired him a lot.
I'm so sad at his early death and sorry for his family. RIP Bill.
Prostate cancer needs to be caught early, so all men take note.
I'm worried about my brother in Canada who has been struggling with treatment for this since January.

Callistemon21 Thu 01-Sept-22 09:42:54

That is sad, he seemed to be a truly lovely man.

When he came here to give a talk on bees we were away and I resolved to go the next time he came but alas, he never did.

RIP Bill

BigBertha1 Thu 01-Sept-22 09:40:18

Ah that's very a lovely man and such a good presenter. His bees will be sad. RIP [flower]

Marmight Thu 01-Sept-22 09:38:16

So sad. He had recently returned to Classic FM but was obviously very unwell. A truly delightful man and bee keeper who will be much missed. RIP

silverlining48 Thu 01-Sept-22 09:36:48

Bill had prostate cancer.
All men over 50 should get tested it’s a simple blood test and if positive and caught early it can be treated.
A friend had prostate cancer so my dh went for a test and to our surprise was also positive. Both are fine now.

I am sorry to hear about Bill Turnbull, only 66 RIP.

Jane43 Thu 01-Sept-22 09:32:40

So sad he was unable to win his fight against prostate cancer.