Britain’s Got Talent winner Jon Courtenay reveals he was diagnosed with skin cancer just weeks before his TV win

BRITAIN’S Got Talent winner Jon Courtenay has told of his secret skin cancer torment. The comedian, singer and pianist, 48, first noticed a mole on the side of his head in January last year. It was around the time of his audition, where he was hosts Ant and Dec’s Golden Buzzer choice. But Jon did […]

BRITAIN’S Got Talent winner Jon Courtenay has told of his secret skin cancer torment.

The comedian, singer and pianist, 48, first noticed a mole on the side of his head in January last year.

Rex Features

Jon Courtenay reveals he was diagnosed with skin cancer just weeks before his BGT win[/caption]

©AndyKelvin / Kelvin Media

Jon first noticed a mole on the side of his head in January last year[/caption]

It was around the time of his audition, where he was hosts Ant and Dec’s Golden Buzzer choice.

But Jon did not get it checked by a GP until July — and was diagnosed with melanoma just weeks before his TV win.

Speaking about his ordeal — to encourage others to get checked and to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support — he said: “Mentally it was agonising.”

He had the mole removed in August but he was told it was cancerous ahead of the show’s semi-finals.

�AndyKelvin / Kelvin Media

Jon urges others to get checked and to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support[/caption]

�AndyKelvin / Kelvin Media

Jon had the mole removed in August but he was told it was cancerous[/caption]

He recalled: “The doctor’s face was so serious I thought I only had days to live.

“I was being referred to a specialist immediately because there was a strong possibility it had spead to my lymph nodes.”

An operation was booked straight after the show’s final.

Jon kept smiling through on TV but admitted: “I was in so much fear about the future.

�AndyKelvin / Kelvin Media

Jon was in fear for the future despite smiling through on TV[/caption]

©AndyKelvin / Kelvin Media

The comedian says he was grateful to be busy with the TV show[/caption]

“I had panic attacks. But I was grateful to be busy with BGT.”

Jon, who lives in Manchester with wife Emmah, 44, and sons Nathan, 15, and Alfie, nine, was crowned the winner in October and pocketed £250,000.

He said: “My first thought was, ‘If the worst happens, it’s a big chunk of money for my family’.”

After a delayed op due to Covid, he was then given a ­dermal skin substitute to patch up his head and went on to film the BGT Christmas special with a Santa hat to cover his wound.

Jon got the all-clear just before Christmas and has since written The Mole Song to help raise cancer awareness.

• YOU can contact the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 0000 (8am-8pm) or visit the charity online at www.macmillan.org.uk

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