ACTOR Timothy Spall says he doesn't know if he has prayers, a bullish attitude or a vat of wine to thank for helping him recover from leukaemia.
The Wolf Hall star's first reaction to being told he had the cancer in 1996, aged 39, was to seek divine intervention.
He said: "I got down on my hands and knees immediately and prayed to God. 'Please God, don't let me die.
I've got three children, two of them are young. Please. Please"." At the time, Timothy should have been celebrating the release of his latest film, Secrets & Lies.
But instead of going to the Cannes Film Festival, he was sent to hospital - where they discovered that 80% of his blood was leukaemic.
The actor started chemotherapy the following morning and was told that had he gone to France, he would probably have collapsed and died.
"The prognosis is that it's going to kill you quick but if they get rid of it, it's going, and you stay in remission," he told Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast. "You've got a very strong chance if you don't get it back after a certain amount of time."
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
FIN IT TO WIN IT
Baxter hoping to end his dismal run of defeats in Red Rose shirt
HE'S LIGHTING UP THE JUNGLE AND IN 1985 BARRY MCGUIGAN LIT UP THE SPORTING WORLD
THE 'Clones Cyclone' was not just a revered fighter but a man who had brought Irish communities together.
Time and Stace...
Stars' new pic for final episode
£230m heir killed pal in knife frenzy
Jury find him guilty of housemate's murder
FURY AS WATER BOSS KEEPS £195K BONUS
Payout comes despite Ofwat block and as sector splashes £1bn in dividends
Amy Dowden inspired me to do CoppaFeel! Himalayas trek ..and to get fit
When Dragons' Den star Sara Davies said she had a mountain to climb as part of her fitness drive she was not speaking metaphorically.
Busiest station stays on track
Lizzie Line boosts numbers using railways
I AM DON
TV Ellen 'moves to UK' after Trump's victory
Yobs facing two years jail over 'respect orders'
Labour bid to reclaim streets
BERT ALERT
Storm dumps snow and rain