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A contestant from this year's The Traitors has revealed he was secretly battling cancer while appearing on the hit BBC series, opening up about his diagnosis in a deeply personal message. Ben, 67, from Hampshire, who entered the Scottish castle earlier this year, disclosed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancerbefore even applying for the show - a fact he kept private during filming. In an emotional video shared on social media, he explained why he has now decided to speak out.

He said: "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer before I applied and was cast on The Traitors. "Since then, prostate cancer has been confirmed as the most common cancer in the UK. "Men are being diagnosed at an all-time high." Ben revealed the diagnosis came as a complete shock because he had experienced no warning signs at all - a reality that has prompted his push for greater awareness and screening.

He said: "I never had any symptoms and people now tell me I am lucky that I was diagnosed. I tend to agree as I am under the NHS and they treat me every three months. I get tested to make sure my cancer is under control."

He also highlighted a stark gap in healthcare provision, noting that prostate cancer remains the only major cancer in the UK without a comprehensive national screening programme.

Ben is now calling for that to change, urging men to check their risk and speak to doctors even if they feel perfectly healthy.

His announcement triggered an immediate wave of support from fellow contestants, many of whom formed close bonds during their time on the show.

Winner Rachel Duffy wrote: "Ben you are amazing." Roxy added: "Love to you Ben, great that you're raising much needed awareness here."

Secret Traitor Fiona Hughes posted: "Sending you lots of cwtches Ben - so lovely of you to share your story and raising awareness."

Ben was one of the Faithful players in the series but exited early after being "murdered" in episode three, finishing 20th out of the 24 contestants.

While his time on screen was brief, his diagnosis places him among a number of figures connected to the programme who have faced serious cancer battles.

Series three contestant Livi Deane has spoken publicly about surviving retinoblastoma, a rare childhood eye cancer that led to the removal of her eye as a teenager.

She has since become an advocate for survivors and shared her experiences in a memoir about life after treatment.

Leanne Quigley's fiancée, Sophie Jones, was diagnosed with grade-three breast cancer in July 2024 and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy before being declared cancer-free earlier this year. The couple have since used their platform to support fundraising for Cancer Research UK.

Comedian Alan Carr, who later appeared in a celebrity edition of the show, has also championed cancer awareness causes, supporting the charity Solving Kids' Cancer UK to highlight neuroblastoma, a rare form of the disease affecting children.