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Tommy Walsh is facing a cancer battle after finding a three centimetre tumour in his lung, MailOnline can reveal.

The veteran TV builder, 67, has told how he needed urgent treatment after doctors picked up the tumour on a CT scan after complaining of a chest infection.

He gave the worrying health update during a talk at a conference held by Swallows, a head and neck cancer charity in November, where he told the audience to ‘keep their fingers crossed’ for him.

It comes after it was revealed last week the beloved BBC star was removed from Homes Under The Hammer and replaced by weatherman and Radio 2 host Owain Wyn Evans, 39, as part of a show shake-up.

Tommy, who has previously battled throat cancer, said on a video of the talk posted on YouTube: ‘I have an emergency appointment at 9am tomorrow morning back in London.

Tommy Walsh (pictured in 2011) is facing a cancer battle after finding a three centimetre tumour in his lung, MailOnline can reveal

 Tommy Walsh (pictured in 2011) is facing a cancer battle after finding a three centimetre tumour in his lung, MailOnline can reveal

Mr Walsh (pictured) made the announcement at a conference of The Swallows Head & Neck Cancer charity on November 27 last year

Mr Walsh (pictured) made the announcement at a conference of The Swallows Head & Neck Cancer charity on November 27 last year

He told the crowd:  'I've tried to keep cheerful and you've cheered me up today, and thank you for letting me reminisce and talk

He told the crowd:  ‘I’ve tried to keep cheerful and you’ve cheered me up today, and thank you for letting me reminisce and talk

‘I had a chest infection, had to go to the doctor and they sent me up to hospital for a CT scan and they think there’s a three centimetre tumour in the lung.

‘I’ve tried to keep cheerful and you’ve cheered me up today, and thank you for letting me reminisce and talk.

‘I was weighing up whether or not to tell you about this but I felt it would be unfair if I was to leave this and I didn’t tell you.

‘That’s why I’m going to have to leave after this talk and I won’t be able to join you for a few beers tonight.

‘But I hope and I would be really pleased if you would have a few on my behalf and I’ll keep my fingers crossed, and if you wouldn’t mind, keep your fingers crossed for me.’

At the time of writing, Tommy has yet to make the results of his appointment public.

MailOnline has approached both the BBC and Tommy’s reps for comment.

Father-of-three Tommy, who has been married to wife Marie for over 30 years, discovered a cancerous lump in his body during a cancer awareness campaign in 2022.

He said: ‘I went to my GP about an unrelated issue and while I was there, he discovered this lump in my throat that he was a bit concerned about.

‘He said it may be nothing but that he would rather I went and got it checked and, unfortunately, it turned out to be cancerous.

‘I had to go in straight away and have surgery to remove it. I am now fully recovered and even back playing football.’

Two decades earlier, he had a breast cancer scare after finding two lumps on his chest.

Due to his family history, a doctor told him to see a consultant at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, the same hospital where his sister had a lumpectomy to remove cancerous and normal breast tissue.

He said: ‘I just buried myself in my work and then went along for the day surgery where the lumps were removed under a general anaesthetic.

The former Ground Force star, 67, is said to be replaced by TV weatherman and Radio 2 host Owain Wyn Evans , 39, in a bid to 'keep younger viewers interested' (Owain pictured)

The former Ground Force star, 67, is said to be replaced by TV weatherman and Radio 2 host Owain Wyn Evans , 39, in a bid to ‘keep younger viewers interested’ (Owain pictured) 

Tommy joined the BBC renovation show in 2021, alongside an array of co-hosts, and  filmed his final episode last year, according to reports (Tommy pictured on Ground in 1997)

Tommy joined the BBC renovation show in 2021, alongside an array of co-hosts, and  filmed his final episode last year, according to reports (Tommy pictured on Ground in 1997)

‘It was only then that it sort of hit me that this could actually be serious and I could have breast cancer, like my relatives.’

Thankfully the test results showed that the lumps were benign, but Tommy admitted it was ‘a bit of a wake-up call’ about the disease.

Tommy shot his final scenes for Homes Under The Hammer last year, which included episodes with his replacement Owain.

During his Swallows conference talk, Tommy told how he had been filming House Under The Hammer and his other show Clean It, Fix It! weeks earlier, and hinted the BBC had other projects ‘lined up’ for him next year, leading him to joke: ‘So if I was thinking about retiring, I can think again.’

But it’s since been revealed he won’t be returning for the new series of House Under The Hammer, as the Welshman has taken over his permanent spot.

According to The Sun, the BBC felt moving forward with Owain, who has been tipped as a future star for the broadcaster, would appeal more to younger audiences.

A source told the publication: ‘Bosses wanted a makeover to keep younger viewers interested.

‘They have been keen to get Owain onto one of their popular shows for a while — he will add a new dynamic.

‘The upcoming series will feature both Tommy and Owain as there is a three-month lag with the house makeovers, so there is some crossover.’

Tommy has been a regular face on TV screens since starring in makeover show Ground Force since 2007.

He was a working builder before getting the role after he was encouraged to audition for a TV producer.

The show became a hit worldwide and Tommy and his co-stars were even invited to the White House to meet the US President George W Bush after making two US series, including a special in New York in wake of 9/11.

Tommy has also released a number of best-selling books.

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This post first appeared on Daily mail