Helen Skelton breaks down as she pays tribute to Morning Live co-host Kym Marsh’s father Dave after his death to prostate cancer: ‘Spending time with him was like spending time in the sunshine’

By William On Jan 15, 2024

The BBC Morning Live team have paid tribute to regular Dave Marsh, father of presenter and actress Kym Marsh, following his death from prostate cancer on Friday.

Dave previously appeared on the show alongside former Coronation Street star Kym in his quest to raise public awareness of the disease after being diagnosed in 2021.

Kym’s father had appeared on Morning Live during Men’s Health Week to urge men not to hesitate to undergo prostate examinations as he continued to receive treatment for an advanced form of the condition, which had spread to his bones.

Recalling Dave on Monday morning, presenter Helen Skelton broke down as she compared spending time with Dave to ‘spending time in the sun’.

“(He was) the warmest man, who constantly made people laugh,” she told co-host Gethin Jones. ‘I could tell story after story.

Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones were near tears as they paid tribute to fellow presenter Kym Marsh’s father Dave Marsh on Monday’s edition of BBC Morning Live

Dave previously appeared on the show alongside former Coronation Street star Kym in his quest to raise public awareness of the disease after being diagnosed in 2021.

“I once caught him singing to a hotel receptionist; she had worked a twelve hour shift, she had had a rough day and everyone at the reception is singing to her – why? Because he made her day great.’

The show also included a montage of Dave as he battled the disease, which affects one in eight men and kills more than 12,000 men every year.

In a post to the Morning Live

‘Sadly, Dave lost his battle with the disease on Friday, so we want to share his story and keep his legacy alive, and encourage men with symptoms to get tested.’

Jones and Skelton also read out a personal message from Kym, a presenter on the show, thanking viewers for their support.

“My family and I would like to thank This Morning Live viewers for the continued support they have shown to Dad and us since his diagnosis,” it said.

“He was extremely proud of the work he did with the show to raise awareness of prostate cancer and the importance of getting it checked. He wanted to try to break the taboo and was so happy when he received letters.

“He had so many viewers who had seen his story and visited their doctor as a result.

Jones and Skelton also read out a personal message from Kym, a presenter on the show, thanking viewers for their support

Kym with dad Dave at The Sun Military Awards in February 2020, a year before his diagnosis

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?

How many people does it kill?

More than 11,800 men in Britain – or one every 45 minutes – die from the disease every year, compared to around 11,400 women who die from breast cancer.

It means prostate cancer is behind only the lungs and bowels in the number of people it kills in Britain.

In the US, the disease kills 26,000 men every year.

Despite this, it receives less than half of breast cancer research funding and treatments for the disease are at least a decade behind schedule.

How many men are diagnosed annually?

More than 52,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK every year – more than 140 every day.

How quickly does it develop?

Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs that someone has it for years NHS.

If the cancer is in its early stages and is not causing symptoms, a policy of ‘watchful waiting’ or ‘active surveillance’ may be implemented.

Some patients can be cured if the disease is treated at an early stage.

But if the diagnosis is made at a later stage, when the disease has spread, the disease becomes terminal and treatment revolves around relieving the symptoms.

Thousands of men are deterred from seeking a diagnosis because of the treatment’s known side effects, including erectile dysfunction.

Testing and treatment

Tests for prostate cancer are haphazard, and accurate tools are only just beginning to appear.

There is no national prostate screening program because the tests have been too inaccurate for years.

Doctors have difficulty distinguishing between aggressive and less serious tumors, making it difficult to decide on treatment.

Men over 50 are eligible for a ‘PSA’ blood test, which gives doctors a rough idea of a patient’s risk.

But it is unreliable. Patients who get a positive result usually have a biopsy, which is also not foolproof.

Scientists aren’t sure what causes prostate cancer, but age, obesity and lack of exercise are known risks.

Anyone with concerns can speak to the specialist nurses at Prostate Cancer UK on 0800 074 8383 or visit prostatecancer.org

“Dad was an incredible man who left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He was kind, loving, funny and very quick-witted. Even in his last days he told jokes and tried to cheer us up.

“He was the best father, grandfather and great-grandfather my family could have asked for, and we are all heartbroken by his passing.”

Former Coronation Street actress and Hear’Say singer Kym has spoken about her father’s prostate cancer a number of times since revealing he was diagnosed in 2021.

“It is with enormous sadness that we confirm the passing of David Marsh,” a statement from the Marsh family said.

“David, a much-loved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, surrounded by his family.

“We are truly heartbroken and ask for privacy during this incredibly difficult time.”

In 2021, Kym took a long break from presenting BBC show Morning Live, later revealing that she suffered from anxiety attacks and sought help for her mental health amid her father’s prostate cancer diagnosis earlier that year.

She appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, and when she became the tenth celebrity to be voted off the BBC show, she said she wanted to make her father, who had been undergoing prostate cancer treatment in hospital, happy.