There was an outpouring of grief for former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull, who has died at the age of 66. Mr Turnbull presented from the famous sofa for 15 years before he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017.
The presenter, who lived in Suffolk, joined the BBC as a reporter in 1986 before joining BBC Breakfast Time as a reporter two years earlier. Following his diagnosis, it was reported that a number of men had started to sign up to get tested for the cancer.
His family said in a statement: "Bill was diagnosed in 2017 and has had outstanding medical care from the Royal Marsden and Ipswich Hospitals, St Elizabeth Hospice and his GP. He was resolutely positive and was hugely buoyed by the support he received from friends, colleagues, and messages from people wishing him luck. It was a great comfort to Bill that so many more men are now testing earlier for this disease."
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His family went on to describe Mr Turnbull as a 'wonderful husband and father', adding: "His family and friends will miss how he always made them laugh, and the generosity and love he shared with those around him.”
What is prostate cancer
According to Prostate Cancer UK, prostate cancer can develop when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way. It is estimated one in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.
It mainly affects men aged over 50 but the risk increases with age - and there is a higher risk among black men. The official NHS website states prostate cancer does not usually cause symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis.
What are the signs and symptoms
The NHS website outlines seven symptoms that could be a symptom of prostate cancer. They are:
- needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
- needing to rush to the toilet
- difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
- straining or taking a long time while peeing
- weak flow
- feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- blood in urine or blood in semen
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