First Dates' Merlin Back In Hospital With Cancer Complications

First Dates’ Merlin Griffiths is back in hospital due to bowel cancer complications. 

The TV star announced he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer last year and underwent surgery in April this year. 

In a post on Instagram yesterday, he shared a snap of himself lying in a hospital wearing a unicorn and rainbow print face mask, alongside which he wrote: "Oh... Squibwibble. #complications. #nhs. #BowelCancerAwareness."

The post has since been flooded with messages of support for the First Dates star, with one writing: “Prayers for a speedy recovery and return to wellness for you dear Merlin.”

Another wrote: “Sending you so much love, hope it gets better soon.”

Someone else said: “Sending biggest possible get well wishes and a fist bump. Hope you're fixed up quick and back home soon.”

Merlin, who simultaneously calms nerves and serves drinks on First Dates, announced he had cancer last September and said doctors had told him he had a 75 percent chance of living beyond five years.

Speaking to the Mirror, he said: "I thought, as most people must when they get a diagnosis, 'Oh f**k, I've got cancer'.

"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."

He also spoke of how he revealed the devastating news to his then-seven-year-old daughter Alix.

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 OK. Modern medicine's great and if anything changes I'll let you know'.

"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."

In April this year, he praised the NHS for ‘literally’ saving his life after he underwent surgery to remove a tumour. 

He was home and recovering from the operation just six days later, in a post he wrote: “And home again. 6 days from surgery. #NHS #davincisurgicalsystem is quite something. It's taken weeks off hospitalisation time! Road to recovery next. #cancer #bowelcancer #stoma.”

Here's hoping Merlin makes a speedy recovery.