Sir Chris Hoy shows true colours with phone call to Dermot Murnaghan after cancer diagnosis

Sir Chris Hoy showed his true colours by phoning Dermot Murnaghan after the latter’s own cancer diagnosis, which the broadcaster called a "mental lifeline”. Six-time Olympic cycling champion Hoy announced in February 2024 that he was undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, for prostate cancer.

In October that year, the Team GB legend revealed that his diagnosis was terminal as the cancer had metastasised to his bones. Doctors told him he had between two to four years to live, after which the 49-year-old Scot began to spread awareness for prostate cancer, encouraging more people to get screenings.

After hearing Hoy’s devastating news, former BBC and Sky News anchor Murnaghan felt compelled to get himself checked. But he failed to do so, writing in The Times: “Seeing friends, football matches, even walking the dog, simply life itself, just seemed to intervene, and anyway I felt fine, no symptoms”.

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It was only two months after Hoy’s devastating statement, while Murnaghan was on a trip to southeast Asia with his wife, that he began to feel “weird”. He experienced symptoms such as not being able to get out of bed and was in agony by the time he landed in the UK, after which he got a taxi to A&E.

He said: “Five hours later my world was upended. The cancer was spreading fast, and I needed immediate surgery to keep me alive.”

The former Eggheads presenter added: “After the numbness and shock of diagnosis, the negative thoughts come flooding in. Firstly, of course, 'How long have I got?'

“Then, 'Why, oh why, didn’t I get that check?' hard on its heels. And perhaps the worst, 'You bloody fool, what have you done to your family?'"

Murnaghan soon received a heart-warming and much-needed phone call from Hoy, who had reached out after hearing news of the prognosis so soon after his own.

Murnaghan said: “Numb with shock, pretty much unable to speak, I found myself listening to a calm, mellifluous Scottish brogue talking me through my own identical diagnosis, based on his experience.

“Chris was on the phone. He called me after hearing through a mutual contact. It was a mental lifeline.” Murnaghan revealed last week that he is responding well to treatment and feeling well.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in males in the UK, accounting for 14 per cent of all cancer deaths in men.

Opening up about his condition, which is now understood to be terminal yet treatable, Hoy told Sunday Times: "As unnatural as it feels, this is nature. You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process.

"You remind yourself, aren't I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible. Hand on heart, I'm pretty positive most of the time and I have genuine happiness. This is bigger than the Olympics. It's bigger than anything. This is about appreciating life and finding joy."

Hoy also recently told TNT Sport: "I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer almost two years ago now, and it shocked me, it rocked my world.

"It changed everything in one sentence, you're told that's not curable, but it's treatable. So suddenly, you have this death sentence, and it's terrifying, but I'm here to show that life goes on for many people in that situation.”

The distinguished Olympian has made an astonishing impact, with a 700 per cent rise in enquiries from men to their GPs to book tests since he announced his prognosis.

He and his wife Sarra were also awarded the Freedom of the City of London for their charitable work on cancer awareness and neonatal care, in addition to Sir Chris' sporting achievements as a British track cyclist.

The couple, who have been married since 2010, attended a joint ceremony at the Lord Mayor's official residence, The Mansion House, last Thursday.