First Dates barman Merlin Griffiths diagnosed with bowel cancer

Merlin Griffiths, the popular barman from Channel 4’s dating show First Dates, has revealed that he has been diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer.

Griffiths, who is known best for his cocktails making skills and friendly chit-chat with contestants as they wait for their dates, opened up about his diagnosis last week, noting that he had started experiencing pain back in June.

Speaking to The Mirror, he admitted to initially dismissing the pain, believing it to be caused by an injury he suffered years ago at the age of twenty but, after the pain persisted, he eventually went to get himself seen by professionals.

There, doctors found a 4.5cm stage three tumour which he describes as ‘looking like an alien’. He said on the devastating moment: “I thought, as most people must when they get a diagnosis, ‘Oh f**k, I’ve got cancer’. When I saw my tumour on a screen I could see this big, alien-like fleshy constriction. The doctors said, ‘It looks like a malignant tumour’.

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“I knew what that meant – it was still alive and growing. But I was also relieved. I’d spent three months telling doctors something’s wrong. No one could give me an answer until now.

“I also wanted to know, what are my chances of surviving? It’s terrifying – of course I want to live. I’ve shed a tear in private. But you can choose ‘to do’ or ‘not to do’. I chose to lead my life as normal, to stick to the facts about it, and to keep putting one step in front of the other.”

Griffiths also spoke of the difficult moment he broke the news to his wife, Lucile, and their seven-year-old Alix, noting they were both ‘incredibly upset’ but remaining positive of his chances of survival.

He recalled: “I said, ‘Dad’s got cancer’. She said, ‘Is that bad, Dad?’ I said, ‘Yes, it’s very serious but I think it should be okay. Modern medicine’s great and if anything changes I’ll let you know.’

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“She understands that people can die but I told her cancer comes in different varieties and in different ways too – and that many people come through it.”

Griffiths has vowed to not be drawn on the deep emotional impact of the diagnosis, saying: “I want to stack the decks in my favour, which means I’m going to remain broadly positive and resilient. I’m just not a whimsical person, I stick to the facts.

“My oncologist said, ‘Your five-year outlook is 75% [chance of survival], but we aim to cure. Obviously that’s a lot lower than I’d want but I have so much faith in medicine and the NHS in this country, which is just so incredible.”

Griffiths has started his first round of chemotherapy and his oncologist hopes to remove the tumour in three months’ time, with more treatment to follow.

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Following his diagnosis, he has urged those with bowel concerns to go to the doctor, saying: “I’m not the type to normally, but I knew something wasn’t right. It’s easy, especially with embarrassing cancers, to brush it under the carpet.

“But we must all trust our instincts.If you are worrying about something, then get it checked. I’m keeping that positive outlook, but I’ve a morbid sense of humour. I tell people, ‘I have colorectal cancer… it’s a real pain in the arse!’.”

Despite his health issues, Merlin is still set on filming another First Dates this year, with strict Covid protocols and a room to shield in.