Louis Walsh reveals rare cancer diagnosis he kept secret

Louis Walsh has revealed details regarding a hidden cancer diagnosis he received during the pandemic’s peak.

The former X Factor judge, 71, opened out to his Celebrity Big Brother roommates, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Levi Roots.

Reflecting on lockdown in 2020, Dragons’ Den star Levi began: ‘I really enjoyed lockdown, having the family in the house…’

‘How was lockdown for you, Louis?’, Ekin-Su probed.

‘I was sick,’ he confessed. ‘Nobody knew I was sick.’

The boy band manager was then asked if he had Covid-19, to which he replied: ‘No, I had cancer.’

‘A mild version, a rare one,’ he added, saying it was cancer in his blood.

‘I didn’t even know I had it, so I went to the hospital and they checked me… and then they found it.’

Louis informed them that his cancer was ‘gone’.

However, he still struggles psychologically.

‘Did it affect you mentally?’, Ekin-Su quizzed.

‘It did. I’ve gotta be honest, it did,’ Louis replied despondently.

Pointing to his head, he said: ‘It’s just up here.

‘Even when I go past the hospital, I almost get sick.’

‘It’s all gone, I’m fine,’ the Irish TV personality reiterated.

‘It was just the shock of being sick, and that word, nobody wants that word.’

‘The C-word,’ Levi chimed in.

‘I have it blocked out,’ Louis confessed.

‘It was just a reality check. In my world, it was all about pop music and all that, and I didn’t think of getting sick or anything like that, so that was like, wow, reality check, you’re in the real world.’

Social media users responded to the candid talk by expressing their dismay at Louis’ cancer diagnosis.

‘Did it stay completely out the press that Louis had cancer??’, asked X user _erinz_.

‘Had no idea Louis had cancer’, said jvdesvocals.

MitchellWebb85 recalled meeting Louis while he had cancer, describing him as ‘kind and funny’, adding: ‘My heart goes out to him, as a cancer survivor myself I know how hard it can be, so I wish him well.’

‘I don’t like Louis, but I would never wish cancer on anyone, I’m glad he found out before it was too late and got help!’, said hanreads_.

NSKLOnline echoed: ‘Glad he’s healthy now’, while CarthyRobbie said it was ‘nuts’ no one knew about Louis’s cancer.

Blood Cancer UK also posted: ‘If you’re watching #CBBUK tonight, you may have seen Louis talk about his diagnosis of blood cancer. We’re glad to hear Louis is doing well, and thank him for opening up about his diagnosis.’

They asked anybody suffering from blood cancer to contact their hotline at 0808 2080 888.

Louis’ presence in the CBB house has created quite a stir.

The music entrepreneur has faced criticism on many occasions for disparaging previous X Factor competitors and clients, including Jedward and Ronan Keating.

Louis characterised Irish twins Jedward as ‘vile’ and then claimed he made £5 million for them.

He noted that they were a ‘novelty’ performance for the singing competition, and John and Edward Grimes responded online.

They branded Louis as ‘cold-hearted’ and said he never gave them flowers after their mother died.

Celebrity Big Brother continues Sunday at 9pm on ITV and ITVX.

Source My Celebrity Life.