‘I'm determined not to let it get me down'

Fred MacAulay has revealed that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The 68-year-old says he has no symptoms but got checked out because of his family history.

His father – also named Fred – died aged 73 in 2002 having had prostate cancer and mesothelioma, and his brother Duncan also received a prostate cancer diagnosis eight years ago, when he was 64.

MacAulay, who presented BBC Radio Scotland's morning show from 1997 to 2015,  told The Sunday Post: ‘I'm determined not to let a prostate cancer diagnosis get me down.’

He added: ‘I’ve even man­aged to stay away from the inter­net because I’d just scare myself to death. Instead, I’m put­ting my trust in my doc­tors, and com­fort­ing myself in the know­ledge that I’ve been dia­gnosed very early which means I should have the best chance for a good out­come.

‘I’m lucky enough to be able to get the incred­ibly accur­ate MRI tests which can show things up quickly. When it became clear I’m more at risk because of the pre­val­ence of pro­state can­cer in my fam­ily, I’ve been get­ting tested every couple of years.’

And he urged more men to get tested, saying: ‘ It could save their lives.’

MacAulay had originally been due to perform at the Gilded Balloon in the last week of the Edinburgh Fringe, but is no longer part of the programme.

He has been a stand-up since the mid-1980s and has appeared  on They Think It's All Over, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, The Unbelievable Truth, Just a Minute, QI, The News Quiz, Mock the Week and Have I Got News For You .

Published: 21 Jul 2025