Paul Burrell discussed his battle with cancer and how he was supported by the late Royals during a performance at Lorraine on Friday.
It was revealed earlier this year that his appearance on I’m A Celebrity South Africa, which begins Monday, led to his diagnosis thanks to pre-show health tests that revealed he had prostate cancer.
Paul, who worked alongside Diana, Princess of Wales for a decade and was a confidante until her death in 1997, was diagnosed with the disease last summer.
During his performance in Lorraine, he said: ‘I was in the jungle with cancer, the queen had died. But I had two angels on my shoulder, the Queen and Princess Diana. I’m going to live my life and be thankful for everything’
Speaking of the Queen, who died while they were filming, the former assistant said: “She became my surrogate mother. Living with someone for 11 years has made me the man I am today.’
Open and honest: Paul Burrell discussed his battle with cancer and how he was supported by the late Royals during a performance at Lorraine on Friday
Close friend: Paul, who worked alongside and was a confidante of Diana, Princess of Wales, for ten years until her death in 1997, was diagnosed with the disease last summer (pictured in 1997)
At the time: Speaking of the Queen, who died while they were filming, the former assistant said, “She became my surrogate mother. Living with someone for 11 years has made me the man I am today’ (Paul is invested in Buckingham Palace by the Queen in November 1997)
An honor: he thanks I’m A Celeb for saving his life
Along with eight other celebrities, Paul was in Northeast South Africa’s Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game reserves, to film for the first-ever I’m A Celebrity series featuring past stars of the jungle.
But after returning home to the UK, Paul received some heartbreaking news that followed some health checks he had done before his trip.
He previously revealed that he underwent routine health tests before joining the show to make things clear to him, but doctors expressed concern about elevated prostate-specific antigen levels.
He spoke to his GP about the results to inquire about his ability to still compete on the show, but was told he was fine waiting until he returned home to investigate the matter further.
Helping: It was revealed earlier this year that his performance on I’m A Celebrity South Africa, which airs Monday, led to his diagnosis thanks to pre-show health tests that revealed he had prostate cancer
He joked with Lorraine about the last time he was on the show, admitting it had been 20 years since he was “a lot thinner, a lot younger,” married and had kids.
Paul continued, ‘I’m A Celebrity literally saved my life because I went for the medical, they found an elevated PSA level. I went to my GP and said to him, “Can I still do the show?”
And he said, “Look, this can wait until you get back, and when you get back, we’ll continue the investigation.”
Wow! Elsewhere in his Friday morning appearance, he also undertook a trial with Lorraine in which they wrestled live snakes
“So when I came back I got an MRI scan, then I got a biopsy, and then they told me they had cancer.”
Elsewhere in his Friday morning appearance, he also undertook a trial with Lorraine in which they wrestled live snakes.
Paul was the runner-up of the fourth series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2004.
He later said he was “so grateful” to ITV for choosing him to take part in the jungle, describing how he is “emotional” but looking forward to the end of his radiotherapy sessions, of which he has five left.
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