Beloved actor who beat leukaemia now fronting charity TV ad to help raise vital funds

83-year-old actor Richard Tate will appear on screens from 26th December onwards to support Leukaemia UK’s call for legacy pledges (otherwise known as gifts in Wills), after surviving leukaemia thanks to pioneering research and treatment, in his 60s. 

In June 2000, professional actor Richard, whose TV credits include Doctor Who, Dad’s Army, Nowhere Boy and Coronation Street, was starring in an adaption of popular children’s book ‘The Lighthouse Keepers Lunch’ at the Oxford Playhouse when he began feeling unwell. 

‘I started getting night sweats, and feeling incredibly tired,’ remembers Richard. ‘At the end of every performance I’d just go back home and get straight into bed – I didn’t want to eat or do anything. By July, I went to my GP for a blood test, to see what was going on.’ 

Results returned quickly, and Richard was given the shocking diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). At the time, treatment options were very limited, and 60-year-old Richard was told that he likely had only around three years left before leukaemia would threaten his life. 

‘I was so shocked and drained,’ remembers Richard. ‘The word leukaemia – it just had a terrifying effect on me. Back then it was one of those things that was always mentioned in films, books, or TV shows, but it never had a happy ending.’ 

As there was nothing that could be done at first, Richard tried his best to keep working, whilst daughter Vicky began looking into potential treatment for her father.  

‘She saw that there were clinical trials happening in Boston for this new drug that would eventually become Imatinib,’ said Richard. ‘She found out that clinical trials were about to start in Newcastle and Hammersmith, under a man called Professor John Goldman, and she convinced West Middlesex to transfer me to Hammersmith for treatment.’ 

Professor John Goldman was a pioneering haematologist, oncologist and medical researcher, and one of the founders of the charity Leuka – which would eventually become Leukaemia UK. Remembering the atmosphere in the hospital at the time, Richard recalls feeling like he had the ‘sword of Damocles’ hanging over his head. He said:

‘You’d hear on the grapevine that people had died. People you knew, people you’d been speaking to the day before. There was always fear – but you’d try to stay positive and keep smiling, trying to be nice to all the professionals and clinicians, even when it hurts, because you want them to care about you. You want them to want to keep you alive.’ 

Fortunately, Dr Goldman’s pioneering treatments were indeed successful, and in August 2014 Richard was finally told that he was officially in remission. 

He said: ‘The feeling of relief was huge – but remission is never the end of the story. It’s not the magical, bell-ringing moment you expect, because there’s always part of you wondering if – or when – it will come back.’ 

In 2023, leukaemia returned to Richard’s life – but thankfully, not in the form of a diagnosis. 

‘When my agent asked if I’d be interested in appearing in an advert for Leukaemia UK, I said of course!’ said Richard, who plays the lead role in Leukaemia UK’s latest TV advert. ‘It was a great experience, and it feels good to give back.’ 

Leukaemia UK is appealing for individuals to consider leaving a gift in their Will to support Leukaemia UK. 

Fiona Hazell, Chief Executive of Leukaemia UK, said: ‘27 people are diagnosed with leukaemia in the UK every single day. Despite progress, only half of leukaemia patients live longer than five years after their diagnosis – but we are working to change this. We believe research has the power to stop leukaemia devastating lives, as Richard Tate’s story demonstrates. Any gift that you choose make to Leukaemia UK, large or small, will make a big difference to help us fund ground-breaking research and care into leukaemia and blood cancers in the UK.’ 

Now aged 84, Richard remains absolutely convinced of the importance of research when it comes to tackling leukaemia. He said:

‘Donating to leukaemia research is the most important thing you can do. I’ve seen first-hand how important research and clinical trials are in saving lives. The truth is, the only way we’ll ever defeat leukaemia is through research, because that’s where oncologists and haematologists get their magic from. Research is the lifeblood of progress.’