Capital Breakfast presenter Chris Stark made an emotional return to the airwaves this morning following his testicular cancer diagnosis.
The 38-year-old DJ was warmly embraced by co-hosts Jordan North and Sian Welby as he took his place behind the desk at the radio station.
“Group hug, group hug, We’ve missed you Chris! We’re so glad to have you back!” Welby could be heard saying in a clip shared on Capital’s official Instagram account.
Stark expressed his joy at being back, telling listeners: “Oh my word it feels so good to be back, it feels a bit surreal to me.”
Stark had revealed his diagnosis in an Instagram post on Monday evening (March 24), explaining he had been absent from the show while undergoing treatment.
After Jordan read out well wishes from fans via text message during Tuesday’s show, Chris shared he was “staggered” and “overwhelmed” by the response to his announcement.
“About two months ago now I got diagnosed with testicular cancer,” he explained to listeners.
The former BBC Radio 1 presenter, who worked alongside Scott Mills until 2022, said he wanted to share his experience despite it being “a really heavy thing”.
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His diagnosis came after a routine visit to his local doctor.
Stark detailed his treatment journey, explaining: “There’s been lots of doctors’ appointments, I had some surgery at one point, I came back from that surgery maybe a little earlier than I should of.”
Welby praised his resilience, saying: “You are such a trooper, I’ve never known anyone like it, you genuinely don’t make a fuss about anything.”
Last week, Stark underwent chemotherapy as a preventative measure to reduce the chances of the cancer returning.
“For the last 10 days or so I’ve been having chemotherapy which has been rubbish and it’s horrible,” he told listeners.
Despite this difficult experience, Stark returned to work with a determination to raise awareness about the condition.
During his candid on-air discussion, Stark expressed regret about not checking himself earlier for symptoms.
“Maybe it will encourage some people to go check themselves because I didn’t do that properly and I feel like an idiot for that,” he admitted.
The presenter revealed his deep concern about the impact on his loved ones.
“I feel like I put my family at risk, put a lot of personal stuff at risk and I really regret that. It really annoys me,” he said.
His honesty about these feelings resonated with listeners as he shared the emotional toll of his diagnosis.
Stark emphasised the importance of raising awareness about testicular cancer, noting it’s “really common in men aged 18-49.”
“This blew my mind when I found out about it,” he told listeners.
He explained his motivation for speaking openly: “I think there’s a bit of a stigma about this kind of thing, I mean it’s quite hard to talk about given the area that it’s in.”
The presenter stressed how treatable the condition is when caught early.
“I’m happy to do it if it means that that conversation is a bit more easier for other blokes,” he said.
With characteristic humour, he added: “I’m really happy to put my one ball on the line.”
Welby praised Stark’s “unreal bravery” in handling his diagnosis, saying she had “never known anyone handle a situation with such class and determination.”
Scott Mills, Stark’s former Radio 1 co-host, told Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2 that learning of the diagnosis was “a shock.”
“They found it early and he’s going to be all right,” Mills reassured listeners.
Numerous celebrities offered support on Stark’s Instagram post, including Michael Buble, who wrote: “God bless you for being valiant enough to share and advocate for all of us.”
The NHS advises that testicular cancer symptoms include lumps, swelling, or pain in the testicles.
