Sir Tom Jones "saved" his friend Jimmy Tarbuck’s life after persuading him to get tested for prostate cancer.
The 79-year-old singer has opened up on how he helped the 80-year-old comedian get a proper check-up for the sake of his health and after doctors discovered he had the disease his pal contacted Tom to say thanks for pushing him to do it.
Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, Tom said: "Some fellas are a little shy to go [to the doctor] and it’s such a simple bloody thing to start with. Jimmy was saying to me, ‘They found something. I don’t know whether to do it, to get it checked’.
"I said, ‘Go and get it checked, just get it done. It’s just a simple thing to have done and if you don’t, you’ll regret it if something happens. Because once it gets a hold of you, then you’re in trouble’ … Anyway, Jimmy says, ‘You’ve saved my life’."
Tarby confirmed his diagnosis last month (19.02.20), and encouraged other guys to go and get tested for the disease.
Speaking on ‘Good Morning Britain’, the former ‘Winner Takes All’ host said: "I have prostate cancer and I’m going to try and beat it. All men out there – go for a test.
"Right now I feel great. I’m on the telly, I’m having a good time."
Tarby also described ‘The Voice’ coach as his "mentor" and thanked him for helping him throughout the ordeal.
He added: "Tom Jones was my mentor – he told me what to do. He said, ‘I’ve had this done,’ and said you’ll get bloods done … Jonesy knows. He is very helpful and gives me a lot of encouragement. I regard him as a great friend. Tom is always good fun and good company and we always have a good laugh."
Sir Tom Jones ‘saved’ Jimmy Tarbuck’s life
