First Dates' Merlin Griffiths shares photo from hospital bed amid cancer battle

ok.co.uk:

First Dates star Merlin Griffiths has shared an update from his hospital bed amid his cancer battle.The 46 year old took to social media to share a selfie and thanked the NHS for saving his life.

Merlin wrote: "2am.Tubes outta everywhere. Aches and pains. But no tumour! #bowelcancerawarenessmonth." The bartender had been preparing for surgery to remove his tumour, and shared a photo earlier this week on Instagram.

Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter Donning a unicorn face mask Merlin said at the time: "Ready as I'll ever be.Tumour removal time. #bowelcancerawarenessmonth." Tests discovered that the TV star had a 4.5cm stage three tumour in his bowel, and his best chance includes a "futuristic" surgery.

Merlin, who is in a relationship with partner Lucille, 40, first announced he'd been diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer during an interview with the Sunday Mirror last year. "I won't let it get the better of me," the TV star insisted, as he recalled how his seven year old daughter Alix reacted to the news.The pub landlord, who owns his own establishment in Lancashire, explained to his child that while his condition is "serious" he's hopeful that with modern medicine "it should be ok". “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," Merlin added.