Comedian Rhod Gilbert reveals heartbreaking double tragedy months after all-clear from Stage 4 head and neck cancer

COMEDIAN Rhod Gilbert has opened up after being hit by a heartbreaking double tragedy just months after his battle with stage 4 cancer.

Welshman Rhod, 55, announced he had been diagnosed with metastatic cancer of the head and neck in July 2022.

But Rhod has now revealed he was dealt a devastating blow just months after his good news.

Rhod said that he found during the interval of a stand-up gig he was doing that his friend had passed away from terminal cancer, reports the Mirror.

He also said that last week he attended the funeral for the dad of another friend of his, who had also died from cancer. 

Rhod said: "This week I've been to a funeral for my friend's dad, who died of cancer.

"In the interval while on stage in Halifax, I [also] found out that a friend of mine had died of cancer. 

"I knew he had gone into end of life care, so it wasn't a huge surprise, but it just happened in that moment where I just so happened to have come off stage during the interval, looked at my phone and read a text saying, "He's gone"."

On how he managed to carry on after learning the news, Rhod added: "I just focused on what good I could do in that moment I suppose."

Rhod received his first clear scan in October last year after undergoing treatment for stage four cancer.

He was diagnosed in July 2022, and was treated at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, where he had been a fundraising patron for a decade before the diagnosis.

The comedian underwent surgery for metastatic cancer of the head and neck, followed by sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Back in April, on a visit to The One Show, Rhod updated hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas on life after being given the all clear.

Rhod said: “[I’m] still all clear. Still in the care of the wonderful Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. Still checks every few weeks, but at the moment, all clear.

“I feel wonderful. I mean, I’ve got lots of issues that I may or may not have for the rest of my life.

“Who cares? I’m here, I’m good and every night I’m pinching myself that I’m doing this, that I’m on stage performing, now two years after being diagnosed.”

The funnyman is performing throughout the UK in 2024 and 2025 on his Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit tour and he says his illness influenced some of the content of his show.

Rhod explained: "Grapefruit, partly a nod to the tumour that was in my neck, and partly the thing of when life gives you lemons you make lemonade.

"Well this is what to do when life starts throwing grapefruits at you which is even worse in my opinion but it's a happy show, it's an uplifting show."

Rhod has been married to his wife Sian Harries since 2013.

Sian is an award-winning comedy writer whose credits include Man Down and Tourist Trap.

Since debuting in professional comedy back in 2002, Rhod has been nominated for the Perrier Best Newcomer Award (2005) and hosted a weekly show on BBC Radio Wales.

He has also appeared on such shows as Would I Lie To You?, QI, Mock the Week, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and 8 Out of 10 Cats.

Rhod was a contestant on the seventh series of Taskmaster alongside fellow comedians James Acaster, Kerry Godliman, Phil Wang and Jessica Knappett. 

He previously gave an insight into his cancer journey with documentary A Pain in the Neck, which aired in October 2023.

The One Show interview comes following Rhod emotionally sharing his story while featuring on Celebrity Bake Off in March.

He was up against Danny Dyer, Leigh Francis and Yinka Bokinni in aid of Stand Up to Cancer.