BBC Breakfast host Roger Johnson has revealed a show guest he had become close to has been given just three months left to live.
Johnson and Rachel Burden discussed Warwick Smith, who is battling throat cancer, during a heartbreaking segment on Sunday’s episode of the BBC One morning show.
Johnson explained that he’s been in touch “quite a lot” with Smith over the years and praised the “defiant” 67-year-old for raising thousands of pounds for charity.
Burden opened the segment by saying: "Back in 2022, Warwick Smith was told he had throat cancer and was given six months to live. Now, since then, he's raised almost £70,000 for cancer charities.”
Johnson went on: "Now, Warwick has been in touch with me quite a lot over the years. He sends me emails, and last month, he emailed me to say that the cancer had returned. It's in his ribs, his spine, his right lung, his liver, and in his brain.
"This time, he's been given three months to live. However, he wanted to do a 10k for Macmillan Cancer Support, which is pretty impressive.”
The presenter continued: "He couldn't do it in one go. He's just not healthy enough and just can't manage it. However, he set out to complete it in three separate stints, and earlier this week, I was there as he finished his final lap of his local lake."
In the footage, Smith explained: "I don't want to fester and fade away. I know I have got to keep moving, to keep active, to keep going."
Johnson said in the voiceover: "It's some defiance from a man who's been given weeks to live, but this 67-year-old is a fighter, day by day, one step at a time, he keeps defying the odds."
He later revealed: "Warwick waited three months for the scan, which found his throat cancer. His brother had died from it.
"Now he's helped to purchase handheld scanners, which will revolutionise diagnosis in the future. Last week he got to see them."
Smith said: "I've had a good life, and I think I'm doing something good. I just wanted to leave something good behind."
BBC Breakfast, which airs daily on BBC One, remains one of the UK’s most-watched morning news programmes, drawing millions of viewers each week.
It hit the headlines last month over reports that presenter Charlie Strayt is “under review” following complaints lodged by colleagues.
The Sun reported that Stayt, 63, is being assessed alongside his co-host Naga Munchetty, 50, after concerns were raised about their workplace behaviour behind the scenes.
It comes amid allegations of bullying against both Munchetty and BBC Breakfast editor Richard Frediani - who has since taken extended leave.
