Fred Sirieix, star of First Dates, has called his co-star Merlin Griffiths a “inspiration” throughout his cancer struggle.
Merlin revealed in September 2021 that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer with a stage three tumour, and he has subsequently published updates on his treatment.
The 47-year-old disclosed earlier this year that he had his stoma removed, adding it felt’very weird knowing all my insides are truly internal me again after 9 months of a stoma’.
He subsequently claimed that he was being released from the hospital, but that his rehabilitation ‘will not be quick, but I’ll get there’.
Before celebrating ten years of First Dates with Merlin, Cici Coleman, and the rest of the crew on Friday, Fred appeared on Lorraine and remarked on Merlin’s’stoic’ attitude and recuperation.
He said: ‘He’s doing much better. You know, what’s amazing with Merlin is his stoic attitude.
‘He’s very positive, and the way he is taking it for me is an inspiration.
‘It really is wonderful, the way he is about all of it.’
‘Yes I’ve spoken to him, he’s back home, he’s on the mend now,’ Fred said in a discussion with Metro.co.uk shortly after his surgery in February.
‘He’s on a six week recovery, hopefully everything is going to go well now, the surgeon sent him home so he is getting there.
‘But obviously, it is a serious thing that he’s got so it’s going to take time, but yeah, it’s good, it’s getting there.’
Speaking about Merlin’s attitude throughout his health battles, Fred continued: ‘He is amazing. Merlin is very philosophical, very stoic, very positive man, and every time I call him or see him, he’s got some funny stories to tell me to make me laugh.
‘He’s a good man, a very good man.’
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV.
Source My Celebrity Life.