BBC Breakfast’s Jon Kay says ‘I’m sorry’ as star announces heartbreaking diagnosis on air

Sally Nugent and Jon Kay spoke with two special guests on Monday’s BBC Breakfast.

BBC Breakfast: Errol reveals he had prostate cancer

Jon Kay told guest Errol Hamlet he was “sorry” after the BBC Breakfast guest announced he was battling prostate cancer live on air. During the inspiring segment, Jon and Sally Nugent spoke with Errol and Maya about the BBC’s Make A Difference Awards, which celebrate unsung heroes who “improve the lives of others”.

Jon went on, “This year’s winners have been announced, and two of them are with us this morning on the sofa. We are delighted to welcome 14-year-old Maya, who won Radio Manchester’s Young Hero Award, and also Errol Hamlet, who won the Active Award with Radio Leeds.”

Errol explained that he won his award for walking around his area and said, “It makes me feel on top of the world”. He told the hosts, “When I won this award, it was like being on top of the world because I knew I was doing something that I wanted to be doing.”

Maya, who was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour, explained she won the award after setting herself a challenge of running 100k while undergoing cancer treatment.

When asked how proud she was feeling, Maya beamed, “I feel really proud, but I’m also happy that I’ve made more people aware of childhood cancer, because you don’t think it’s going to happen to you, until it actually does.

Jon Kay on BBC Breakfast (Image: BBC)

Errol said he was battling prostate cancer (Image: BBC)

“So the fact that people are more aware of it, and they kind of watch and see my journey, makes me really happy.”

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She added, “The treatment was very tiring, but I had so much support from everyone else, and just seeing the difference I was making, and seeing the money that was raised to help other people like me who are less fortunate.”

Turning to Errol, Jon asked, “Amazing, what do you think of her, Errol?”

“Very good,” Errol replied before announcing, “But I’m a victim of prostate cancer as well. I’ve been suffering from prostate cancer now for 15 years.”

Sally and Jon spoke to Maya and Errol (Image: BBC)

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Jon replied, “So you understand the positivity?”

“That’s why the walking comes into force because my doctor is saying to me, ‘keep doing what you’re doing, and you can never go wrong’,” Errol told the hosts.

“So I get up, get on with it, and if I go tomorrow, I’ve got no regrets.”