Jon Holmes Says The C-word

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Also Described As

In 2023, Jon Holmes was diagnosed with cancer – which came as a bit of a surprise because, quite frankly, he was far too busy for all of that nonsense. After a very odd, intense, unexpected, ridiculous year, Jon realised that men don't tend to talk openly about the preposterous indignity of dealing with cancer. So he decided he would, with other men who are going through it, or who've been through it.

Here – inevitably – comes his new chatty podcast.

Across the series, Jon will be joined by the comedians Stephen Fry, Mark Steel, Richard Herring, Matt Forde and Eric Idle, actors Colin McFarlane and Ben Richards, rock star and The Alarm frontman Mike Peters, and journalists Jeremy Langmead, Nick Owen and Jeremy Bowen. Jon and his guests will demystify all things cancer in raw, honest, difficult, often absurd and – yes – funny detail, from fingers up the bum to blood tests via biopsies, surgery, catheters, stomas, feeding tubes, penis pumps (no, really) and incontinence pads.

Jon wants to stop the stigma and embarrassment associated with these issues (and by 'issues', we mean 'body parts and what happens to them'), to raise awareness and encourage listeners to ‘get checked' as he aims to remove the fear from the whole diagnosis and treatment process in an accessible, honest and entertaining way.

Throughout the series, Jon will also be encouraging listeners to get involved and share their own experiences, whether it's something they have been through themselves or are supporting someone with cancer.

Jon Holmes Says The C-Word aims to humanise what is often a completely de-humanising process, because, honestly, the cancer road is paved with frequently hilarious unexpected moments - and Jon maintains that retaining a sense of humour is all important.

As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ?

In Jon Holmes Says The C-Word Jon will be wearing his heart - and, quite frankly, all of his body parts - on his sleeve.

Written and presented by Jon Holmes

Produced by Laura Grimshaw

An unusual production for BBC Radio 4

Jon Holmes was diagnosed with cancer so - inevitably - here comes his new chatty podcast.

Duration

30 minutes

Genre

Chat
Factual
Health And Wellbeing
Life Stories
Comedy

Station

Radio 4

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	You Might Feel A Bit Of A Prick	20240709	In episode one, Jon and his guests discuss What Made You Go To The Doctors In The First Place? as they talk symptoms, tests, the importance of catching it early, and a finger up the bum. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC: Rhian Roberts Jon and his guests discuss 'what made you go to the doctor's in the first place?' as they talk symptoms, tests and the importance of catching it early.
02	Life, Death And Admin	20240716	In episode two, Jon and his guests discuss being placed on the cancer conveyor belt – a hospital rollercoaster of appointments, results, worrying, and waiting - lots of waiting. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts
03	Diagnosis: Cancer	20240723	In episode three, Jon and his guests discuss scans, biopsies and the awkward moment you're told that you have cancer. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts Jon and his guests discuss biopsies and the awkward moment you're told you have cancer.
04	Am I Now 'that Cancer Guy'?	20240730	In episode four, Jon and his guests discuss Going Public, telling family and friends, and perusing and ordering from the menu of treatment options. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts Jon and his guests discuss Going Public and telling family and friends. Jon and his guests discuss Going Public and telling family and friends, and perusing and ordering from the menu of treatment options.
05	What Do My Insides Look Like?	20240806	Jon and his guests discuss The Big Op – having the cancer cut out and your insides rearranged. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts In episode five, Jon and his guests discuss The Big Op.
06	Feeling Like Crap	20240813	In episode six, Jon and his guests discuss follow up scans and treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy and quite how crap they can make you feel. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts Jon and his guests discuss follow-up treatments and quite how crap they make you feel. Jon and his guests discuss follow-up scans and treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy and quite how crap they make you feel.
07	Pumps Bags And Jabs	20240820	In episode seven, Jon and his guests discuss side-effects, physio and recovery – including catheters, incontinence, stomas and pelvic floors, and self-administered injections and erections, and penis pumps (no, really). As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts Jon and his guests discuss catheters, stomas, self-administered injections and penis pumps Jon and his guests discuss side-effects, physio and recovery, including catheters, stomas and pelvic floors, self-administered injections, erections and penis pumps (really).
08	Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life	20240827	In episode eight, Jon and his guests discuss love, hope, strength and the future – ongoing treatments, ongoing research, and the joy of being told you're cancer free. Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts If you, or someone you know, have been affected by cancer, you can find information and support at BBC.co.uk/actionline

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	You Might Feel A Bit Of A Prick	20240709	In episode one, Jon and his guests discuss What Made You Go To The Doctors In The First Place? as they talk symptoms, tests, the importance of catching it early, and a finger up the bum. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC: Rhian Roberts Jon and his guests discuss 'what made you go to the doctor's in the first place?' as they talk symptoms, tests and the importance of catching it early.
02	Life, Death And Admin	20240716	In episode two, Jon and his guests discuss being placed on the cancer conveyor belt – a hospital rollercoaster of appointments, results, worrying, and waiting - lots of waiting. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts
03	Diagnosis: Cancer	20240723	In episode three, Jon and his guests discuss scans, biopsies and the awkward moment you're told that you have cancer. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts Jon and his guests discuss biopsies and the awkward moment you're told you have cancer.
04	Am I Now 'that Cancer Guy'?	20240730	In episode four, Jon and his guests discuss Going Public, telling family and friends, and perusing and ordering from the menu of treatment options. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts Jon and his guests discuss Going Public and telling family and friends. Jon and his guests discuss Going Public and telling family and friends, and perusing and ordering from the menu of treatment options.
05	What Do My Insides Look Like?	20240806	Jon and his guests discuss The Big Op – having the cancer cut out and your insides rearranged. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts In episode five, Jon and his guests discuss The Big Op.
06	Feeling Like Crap	20240813	In episode six, Jon and his guests discuss follow up scans and treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy and quite how crap they can make you feel. As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts Jon and his guests discuss follow-up treatments and quite how crap they make you feel. Jon and his guests discuss follow-up scans and treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy and quite how crap they make you feel.
07	Pumps Bags And Jabs	20240820	In episode seven, Jon and his guests discuss side-effects, physio and recovery – including catheters, incontinence, stomas and pelvic floors, and self-administered injections and erections, and penis pumps (no, really). As Jon says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed - one full of other people's stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process - I'd have lapped it up. But there wasn't, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is. ? Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts Jon and his guests discuss catheters, stomas, self-administered injections and penis pumps Jon and his guests discuss side-effects, physio and recovery, including catheters, stomas and pelvic floors, self-administered injections, erections and penis pumps (really).
08	Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life	20240827	In episode eight, Jon and his guests discuss love, hope, strength and the future – ongoing treatments, ongoing research, and the joy of being told you're cancer free. Commissioning Editor for the BBC - Rhian Roberts If you, or someone you know, have been affected by cancer, you can find information and support at BBC.co.uk/actionline