Hey Hey It’s Saturday star John Blackman will undergo more surgery after doctors were forced to remove his JAW to save him from skin cancer – as he vows to return to TV
- John Blackman will have more facial surgery at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne
- The 72-year-old had his jaw removed to remove cancer cells in September 2018
- His surgeon will add another skin graft over his chin to stop him from dribbling
- He said his health is not as bad as it seems and looks forward to performing again
Hey Hey It’s Saturday star John Blackman will undergo further surgery after doctors were forced to remove his jaw to save him from an aggressive skin cancer.
The actor and TV personality will go under the knife at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne on Friday to put what he called a ‘gutter’ in his mouth to stop him from dribbling.
The 72-year-old had surgery in September 2018 when his jaw was completely removed and replaced with a reshaped section of his fibula.
Blackman temporarily lost his voice following the operation, but said his health woes were not as bad as they seemed.
John Blackman is going back under the knife for another operation to stop him from dribbling after his jaw was removed to remove cancer cells in September 2018
‘I’m not too bad…I sound awful, and I probably look awful but believe it or not I’m a very, very healthy 72-year-old,’ he told Nine News.
Blackman was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma in 2018 after finding a lump on his chin, which he initially thought was a harmless pimple.
The lump first appeared a few years ago and he picked at it but didn’t get it properly examined until a late diagnosis revealed it was cancerous.
After finding out the bad news from his surgeon, the comedian was told the surgical treatment could change his trademark voice.
The surgery removed all the tissue around his chin, as well as his bottom teeth.
Speaking to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell after the operation Blackman said: ‘It’s like I’ve had an accident. It’s like I’ve ploughed into a tree and my life has changed forever.’
Blackman in hospital after his operation to remove his jaw and replace it with his fibula to remove cancer cells
Blackman before his jaw surgery in January 2011 at Melbourne’s Crown Casino
‘There are people out there far worse off, and I’m reminded of that everyday,’ he said, adding that he had to communicate through eye movements while in recovery.
The former voice of Dickie Knee on the popular variety show said he has a new appreciation for people with disabilities and their resilience after his 18-month cancer battle.
‘Sometime’s it’s like Groundhog Day, every morning I wake up and look in the mirror and think “maybe today it’ll change” but it’s still there,’ Blackman said.
Blackman’s plastic surgeons will graft skin from his thigh and place it over the top of the existing graft on his chin before making room for dentists to work on his teeth.
Blackman was the voice of Dickie Knee on Hey Hey It’s Saturday and would often pop up from the bottom of the frame to chat with host Daryl Somers
Blackman (pictured far left) spent 28 years on Hey Hey It’s Saturday as the voice behind Dickie Knee
He has been re-learning to pronounce words since his earlier jaw operation and is determined to perform again.
‘I’m pretty determined that I will be getting back in front of a crowd and back in front of a microphone, but I’ve got to go through the whole learning process again,’ he said.
‘I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t have any other skills except that – hopefully making people laugh and being a professional entertainer.
With 50 years in broadcasting and comedy, Blackman’s voice is his livelihood.
Joking about his diagnosis in 2018, he said: ‘My first thought was, “I’ve got a diary full of corporate gigs, I’m going to have to ring them all and put them on hold!”‘
Blackman said he hopes to get back in front of a crowd and perform after his recovery