BBC Radio 2 veteran Bob Harris has opened up about a significant change in his health, revealing that his prostate cancer has progressed and that he has now begun an intensive new course of treatment.

The 80-year-old broadcaster, affectionately known to generations of listeners as “Whispering Bob,” shared the update with fans after several months away from his regular radio programmes. Alongside a photograph taken from his hospital bed, Harris explained that while he continues to feel relatively well, doctors have detected changes in his condition that require further treatment.

Harris said the cancer had been gaining ground during the period he spent away from broadcasting. He is now undergoing intravenous radiotherapy and remains hopeful that the treatment will slow the disease and keep it under control.

A New Chapter in His Cancer Treatment

Harris was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007. For many years, the disease was managed through treatment, allowing him to continue his extensive career in radio and music broadcasting.

Earlier in 2026, however, he revealed that doctors had discovered the cancer had spread to his upper spine. The development came after he experienced severe back pain and underwent a series of medical scans. He subsequently received radiotherapy and spent time in hospital as doctors worked to bring the disease under control.

The diagnosis eventually led Harris to step away from his BBC Radio 2 programmes, Sounds of the 70s and Radio 2 Country, in June. After more than five decades on air, leaving broadcasting was an exceptionally difficult decision, but he explained that his health needed to take priority.

Time With Family Has Become Especially Precious

Although being away from the studio has been difficult, Harris said the enforced break has given him something he now values enormously: time with the people closest to him.

During the summer, he was able to remain at home and spend meaningful moments with relatives and friends. He has also shared glimpses of those experiences with his followers on social media.

The broadcaster described the period as a reminder of how valuable ordinary moments can become when circumstances change. Despite missing his radio programmes, he said he felt fortunate to have had the opportunity to slow down and enjoy time with the people he loves.

However, while those months brought positive experiences, Harris acknowledged that his cancer continued to progress.

An Emotional Hospital Visit

The latest stage of treatment has also taken an emotional toll.

Harris revealed that he became tearful after leaving hospital following a recent treatment session. His son Miles was with him at the time, making the experience particularly poignant for the broadcaster and his family.

Rather than hiding the emotional difficulty of the situation, Harris chose to speak openly about it with his supporters. He acknowledged that living with advanced cancer can involve considerable uncertainty and emotional highs and lows.

He also pointed to former Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, who has publicly discussed living with stage four prostate cancer, as an example of someone continuing to live meaningfully despite a serious diagnosis.

Harris Remains Determined to Stay Positive

Despite the latest setback, Harris has stressed that he remains optimistic.

He said his medical team is confident that the new treatment can help keep the cancer under control, with an indication of its effectiveness expected relatively soon. He has also maintained his determination to make the most of each day.

His message to people experiencing their own difficult circumstances has been one of perseverance. Harris encouraged others facing serious challenges not to surrender hope and to continue fighting through difficult periods.

That positive outlook has become a defining feature of Harris’s public approach to his illness. Even while discussing difficult developments, he continues to focus on the future rather than allowing his diagnosis to define every aspect of his life.

His Radio Career Spans Nearly Six Decades

Harris’s absence from BBC Radio 2 marks the end of a remarkable chapter in British broadcasting.

His career stretches back almost 56 years, during which he became one of the country’s most influential champions of music. He was particularly associated with country, Americana and roots music and developed a loyal audience through programmes including The Old Grey Whistle Test, Sounds of the 70s and Radio 2 Country.

His decision to step away from his regular programmes was therefore about more than simply leaving a job. Harris described it as one of the hardest choices he had ever made, while making clear that he did not want to continue broadcasting unless he could give his listeners his full commitment.

Looking Beyond the Hospital

Despite his health difficulties, Harris is still making plans for the future.

He is scheduled to appear at the Royal Albert Hall in London on December 2 for Stand By Me: Bob Harris – A Celebration of Life in Music. The special concert is expected to celebrate his extraordinary broadcasting and music career, with performances from artists including Roger Daltrey, Paul Weller and Robert Plant.

The event gives Harris another reason to look ahead as he continues treatment.

For now, the veteran broadcaster remains focused on his health, his family and the possibility of returning to the stage. While his latest update acknowledges that his cancer journey has become more challenging, Harris’s message remains firmly centred on hope, resilience and making the most of the time ahead.