Eastenders star John Partridge revealed that he suffered from testicular cancer many years ago, while appearing on ITV's The Real Full Monty. The clip has also been shown on Good Morning Britain, when Partridge also spoke out about his ordeal.
Partridge, best known for playing Christian Clarke in the long-running television soap opera, was discussing cancer with other guests on the show, including rugby star Ugo Monye, The Only Way Is Essex's James Argent and former Celtic and Wales footballer John Hartson - himself a cancer survivor.
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In an emotional segment, Partridge revealed that he'd had testicular cancer years ago and that he found it difficult to talk about.
"My heart is pounding out of my chest," he said, explaining how difficult he has talking about it.
He added that he had felt 'shame' for his diagnosis, acknowledging that while he knew he shouldn't, he can't help how he feels.
When asked if he'd had support at the time, Partridge said he didn't tell anyone, and that he had a large tumour and had to have surgery.
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His cancer - which was discovered as the result of a hernia - had fortunately not spread anywhere else when it was found, and was removed.
A visibly upset Partridge was congratulated by his fellow guests for talking about his experience of cancer.
The show, which first aired in 2017, is aimed at highlighting some of the major health concerns in UK right now, including prostate and testicular cancer. It was inspired by the film The Fully Monty, in which a group of unemployed Sheffield steel workers try to raise money by stripping off.
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Airing around the 20th anniversary of the film's release, the first edition of The Real Full Monty caused an upsurge in internet searches about men's cancers, with the Prostate Cancer UK website crashing.
Of male cancer deaths, prostate cancer contributes 13 percent, and there has been a large increase in the number of cases since the 1970s.
While testicular cancer cases in the UK are relatively low, around one man dies per week from the disease, and about 1,200 men are estimated to have died around Europe since 2012.
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It's hoped that with the second season of The Real Full Monty, awareness about the illnesses will be raised and more men will seek screenings.
As the Cancer Research UK website says, screening is the 'route with the highest proportion of cases diagnosed at an early stage, for all cancers combined', and so it is hoped that the efforts of Partridge and co. will bring down case numbers yet further.
Featured Image Credit: PA