Comedian Richard Herring shares ‘incurable’ blood cancer diagnosis

EntertainmentHealth & Fitness
17 Jun 2026 • 4:54 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Comedian Richard Herring shares ‘incurable’ blood cancer diagnosis

  • Comedian and Taskmaster star Richard Herring has announced he has been diagnosed with an “incurable” but “treatable” blood cancer called hairy cell leukaemia.
  • Herring shared the news on his Substack on Tuesday, adding: “I will of course be using the fact that I have incurable cancer for all it’s worth for the rest of my (hopefully long) life.”
  • This new diagnosis is separate from his previous testicular cancer, for which he received treatment in 2021 and is now considered “basically at the all-clear stage”.
  • Hairy cell leukaemia is a rare form of blood cancer, and while incurable, Herring said it is “entirely treatable”, with cells having been detected in his bone marrow 12 years ago.
  • He added: “I am not too worried or upset, but I am not delighted to have had two cancers before the age of 60. What treats await me should I live into the next decade?”

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