Danny Baker: I'm two and a half stone lighter but no plans for fitness DVD
Danny Baker has spoken for the first time about his battle with mouth and throat cancer as he made a triumphant comeback at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.
The Deptford-born broadcaster collected the prize for speech radio personality of the year, and got a standing ovation. He told the Standard afterwards: "I've had a horrible time" - but said it was terrific to be back at work.
Baker, 53, was diagnosed in November and stepped down from his shows on BBC London 94.9 and Radio 5 Live for six months of radiotherapy. He returned to the airwaves last month but is yet to be given the all-clear. He had not revealed what cancer he was suffering until last night. "I can't eat at the moment at all," he said.
"I've got a tube I put formula through ... I've got no taste buds, no saliva glands, I've got chronic pins and needles in my hands and feet, but I'm alright. I've lost two-and-a-half stone but I won't be bringing out a DVD on how I did it. I've had a horrible time - it's been awful." He said his speech at the ceremony at Grosvenor House, Mayfair, was "a bit utility", but added: "This is the first time I've been out this late in eight months, maybe nine.
"I'm extraordinarily tired. Perhaps I went back to work too early but it's a terrific thing that I came back. I'm so much better than six weeks ago. My job isn't exactly digging coal out of the ground and fortunately they let me in minutes before broadcast and they trust me on the air. So I can do that and feel normal after months and months and months of being bedbound."
Baker lives with wife Wendy in Deptford. They have three children, Bonnie, 27, Sonny, 24 and Mancie, 12. "It's been a hell of year and it feels like it may have just turned a corner," he said.
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood was named music radio personality of the year just 12 months after making his debut on Absolute Radio.
The 63-year-old said the show had helped him steer clear of drink and drugs: "I'm doing very good - 15 months clean and serene. A thing I've been doing since I've been clean is researching the archives. The radio has been great therapy. I'll be celebrating this with another Red Bull."
He said it was a "beautiful surprise" to beat heavyweight rivals such as Chris Moyles and Jarvis Cocker.
Radio 2's Jeremy Vine was named best speech broadcaster and won the best interview award for his grilling of Gordon Brown, which left the then-prime minister with his head in his hands.
Jenni Murray and Annie Nightingale won honorary awards, while talkSPORT was named national station of the year. But 5 Live took home the biggest haul, with six prizes including breakfast show of the year.
