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First Dates star Merlin Griffiths has stoma removed in surgery

'Tomorrow is a new day'

Merlin Griffiths is in the last stages of his cancer treatment. (Channel 4)
Merlin Griffiths is in the last stages of his cancer treatment. (Channel 4)

First Dates star Merlin Griffiths has had a stoma removed in surgery for the latest round of his cancer treatment.

The 47-year-old reality TV star was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021 and has been undergoing treatment ever since.

In a recent update, Griffiths confirmed he was now in the last stage of his cancer treatment.

Read more: Merlin Griffiths wishes he'd taken cancer symptoms more seriously

He told his fans on Instagram: "Ouch. Time for a nap. Surgery done, tomorrow is a new day. Things start happening once I fart properly! I hope it’s soon because I’m very hungry…."

He added: "Feels weird looking down and not seeing a #Stoma. My hand keeps feeling for my bag to see how full it is, and coming up empty!!"

Merlin Griffiths is barman on First Dates. (Channel 4)
Merlin Griffiths is barman on First Dates. (Channel 4)

Griffiths also thanked the NHS doctors and nurses who have been looking after for him and also confirmed that his bear – who often features in his updates – was going to be sent to a child with a stoma.

Griffiths has previously undergone surgery to remove the tumour from his bowel but has suffered from complications during his battle with the disease.

When he made his diagnosis public, Griffiths said he had been ignoring symptoms and warning signs relating to the disease.

He said: "It was that typical male reticence thing of going – 'oh I’m fine', 'it’s nothing really', 'I’ll be alright.' I tried to convince myself that the pain just wasn’t important."

Griffiths has since urged people to not ignore signs of bowel cancer which include blood in your poo, a change in bowel habits and persistent abdominal pain.

The disease is most common in people over 60 and those who are overweight or have a history of bowel cancer in the family.

Watch below: Merlin Griffiths and Matt Dawson on raising awareness of bowel cancer