Legendary BBC sports presenter Steve Rider, 73, reveals prostate cancer battle and needs urgent surgery this week

LEGENDARY BBC sports presenter Steve Rider, 73, has revealed he’s battling prostate cancer.

He made a brave appearance on live TV this morning, having been diagnosed two months ago.

GettyIconic presenter Steve Rider is battling prostate cancer and is having surgery this weekend[/caption]

The fan favourite was diagnosed two months ago and revealed all on BBC Breakfast

And Rider admits he needs urgent surgery, with the fan favourite set to go under the knife this weekend.

He told BBC Breakfast: “I’m a great convert to the work of Prostate Cancer UK because on Saturday I need quite an urgent operation.

“The whole process from getting myself checked, to diagnosis, to operation has taken about two months. I consider myself to be extremely lucky.”

Former Grandstand and Sportsnight host Rider got himself checked after fellow TV star Nick Owen was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Rider, who shares two children with wife Jane Eydmann, continued: “My reading was a little bit high, but being a bloke, you can live with that. No symptoms or anything like that.

“My wife is, thankfully, far more sensible and far more tuned in to these things. We went off and into the examination procedure and into the X-rays and so on. By that time I was pretty tuned in to the whole system.”

He got his results a day after going on a charity walk in memory of late BBC presenter Bill Turnbull, who died of prostate cancer last year.

Rider, who also anchored coverage of football, F1 and rugby on ITV, said: “I went in and they said I need to be operated on as soon as possible and to clear the diary for the next three weeks.

Turnbull was the presenter of several flagship BBC and ITV showsPA:Press Association

“It’s all contained within the prostate, so it gives us the opportunity to have significant surgery and cure the whole thing that way.

“If it becomes more advanced, the future is a little bit more bleak for people.

“We have caught it in time that surgery will knock it on the head. I’ve been so lucky.”

Fans reacted to Rider’s new online, with many praising his message for men to have their prostates checked.

One said: “Thank you Steve for getting the message out.”

Another declared: “Thank you for talking about a silent killer, the more men we get checked the better.”

One noted: “Such sad news, wishing him a full and speedy recovery.”

Another added: “One of the best in the business. Best of luck Steve.”