Matt Forde reveals spinal tumour
- Matt Forde has revealed that he has been diagnosed with a spinal tumour
- The stand-up and Spitting Image writer-performer will be taking time off from recording Absolute Radio's Rock 'N' Roll Football show
- Posting on social media, Forde wrote: "I'll be fine. In the words of Steve Cooper, I'll trust the process"
Matt Forde has announced that he has been diagnosed with a spinal tumour.
The stand-up and writer-performer for Spitting Image, shared the news after revealing that he would be taking a break from presenting Absolute Radio's Rock 'N' Roll Football show.
Posting today on X, formerly known as Twitter, Forde gave an update on his condition and quoted the philosophy of Steve Cooper, manager of the football team he supports, Nottingham Forest:
"Some personal news. I've had awful sciatica lately. It's caused by a spine tumour. I need surgery so I'll be off for a bit. I'll record some shows to cover the gap (subscribe wherever you get your podcasts). I'll be fine. In the words of Steve Cooper, I'll trust the process".
Sciatica is where the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, is irritated or compressed. It usually improves in four to six weeks but can last longer.
In an exchange on Rock 'N' Roll Football this Saturday, in which they explained his recent absences from the show, his co-host Matt Dyson told him: "We're all with you.
"You will be on the treatment table for a little bit. But then you'll be back on the grass soon ... People get injured, they're out for a while, they come back. Squad rotation."
Forde replied: "That's a lovely way to think about it actually. It's just like a footballer going through an injury.
"But I wanted to let you know because I'm not going to be here for a few weeks. I don't want people to think I'm just being lazy."
Forde then parroted Boris Johnson's phrase about Brexit, having voiced the former Prime Minister on Spitting Image's television revival and stage show spin-off, Idiots Assemble. "We're going to get the health problem done" he said. "To borrow or misquote a phrase."
The comic had been due to record his The Political Party podcast on October 30th at the Duchess Theatre in London with long-serving Labour MP Harriet Harman but all upcoming shows in the series have now been postponed until December 4th. He has cancelled a short Soho Theatre run of his Inside No 10 stand-up show, but his tour is still set to go ahead next year.