Slade’s Noddy Holder, 77, looks in good spirits in photo taken hours after revealing his secret five year throat cancer battle as wife Suzan confirms he is ‘doing well’
Noddy Holder looked in good spirits as he joined his wife Susan and BBC presenter Nick Owen for a photo on Thursday.
The video was taken a few hours after Susan revealed that he was struggling with a sore throat cancer five years and was given six months to live when he was diagnosed.
The beloved musician, 77, has begun a new trial of the chemotherapy that has helped keep him alive.
Susan took to Instagram and shared a photo of Noddy next to Nick Owen as she interviewed the host about her husband’s health.
Alongside the post, she wrote: “I’ll be speaking to the lovely Nick Owen on BBC Midlands today at 6.30pm to reassure the Noddy folk that he’s ok. Thank you.’
Looking good: Noddy Holder looked in good spirits as he joined his wife Susan and BBC presenter Nick Owen in a picture on Thursday
Post: Noddy’s wife Suzanne has assured fans that he is “fine” at the moment
Noddy looked in good spirits in the photo as he stood next to Suzanne wearing a navy blue printed T-shirt.
Announcing her diagnosis, Susan wrote Great British Life: ‘Five years ago we received the devastating news that he had esophageal cancer and only six months to live.
“I’m sorry if it’s a bit of a shock; and it was like a total bomb for us. We dealt with it the only way we could, by huddling, sticking together and doing everything we could to survive it.
“We only told close family and friends and I will never apologize to those we didn’t confide in, only to those who were forced to endure pain and suffering alongside us as we tried to navigate this new and terrifying world.”
Susan married Noddy in 2004 – they have a son named Django. Noddy married dress designer Leandra Russell in 1976 and they had two daughters, Jessica and Charice. They divorced in 1984.
Susan said the Merry Christmas Everybody singer managed to maintain a positive outlook despite his health problems.
He was treated at The Christie Hospital in Manchester and underwent a revolutionary new form of chemotherapy which helped keep him alive.
Susan wrote: “There were no guarantees, no one knew if it would work, let alone work miracles, but he responded well. As anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer will know, experts never like to use the word ‘cure’, but here we are five years later and he is feeling well and looking great.’
Sad news: Noddy has revealed his secret five-year battle with throat cancer as his wife Susan said he was given six months to live when he was diagnosed
Iconic: Noddy is best known for being the frontman of Slade who earned six UK number one singles during his 25-year career
Susan wrote: “It was a total bomb for us too. We dealt with it the only way we could, by huddling, sticking together and doing whatever we could to survive it.’
Noddy was in good shape and was able to hit the stage this summer after being invited on stage by Cheshire musician Tom Sills.
Slade earned himself six UK number one singles during his 25-year career.
Their biggest hit was Merry Christmas Everybody in 1973, with its unforgettable chorus: “Here it is, Merry Christmas/Everybody’s having fun.”
The song is reported to bring in just £500,000 in royalties each year.
The band started in Wolverhampton in 1966 with a line-up including Dave Hill, Don Powell and Jim Lee, who performed alongside Noddy.
Holder and Lea left the band in 1992, and Hill and Powell continued to perform as Slade with various other singers and musicians.
Wow! Slade’s biggest hit was 1973’s Merry Christmas to All, which is said to bring in just £500,000 in royalties each year.
Couple: Susan shared this photo of the couple to wish Noddy a happy birthday in June
But in 2020, Powell said he was fired from the band. He claimed Hill fired him via email without warning, which Hill denies.
And in 2015, Holder said: “It saddens me that the four lads who were at the Slade can’t get together and sit around the table.
‘Five years ago I gathered the four of us to air our grievances, but it was too painful.’
Holder and Hill sparked speculation that the band was reforming when they released a joint recording in February.
The singer and guitarist posed for a picture that Susan posted on Instagram.
The author captioned the picture: “Lunch today.” I won’t ask any more questions.’
Holder and Hill have not performed together since Holder left the band in 1992. He has since said it would take a ‘miracle’ to reunite all four original members.