The heartbreaking reason Ben Fordham is taking time off from his 2GB radio show
Radio star Ben Fordham has announced he will be taking the rest of the year off to spend time with his terminally ill father, John.
After a lengthy battle with throat cancer, Mr Fordham, founder of celebrity management business The Fordham Company, has been told his fight “won’t be continuing.”
Ben shared the sad news on his 2GB’s drive show, that he would be taking an early leave from his gig to make the most of the time he has left with his father.
“Today I’ve got a bit of a challenge on my hands, because my dad, who hasn’t been well for a long time, was told that his fight against throat cancer won’t be continuing,” he told listeners.
“I actually made the decision late yesterday that I’ll be wrapping up the radio show by the end of today or tomorrow and that will be it for the year, so that I can spend some time with dad.”
Fordham admitted his family had been devastated by his dad’s latest health development after he battled the disease for “a couple of years.”
“We’ve had to have one of those conversations that a lot of families have had to have, and (I decided) that for the rest of the year I want to spend some time with dad,” he said.
“I don’t know how much time he wants to spend with me because at the moment he just wants to rest, but I told him I’m going to be a bit of a bad smell for the rest of the year,” he joked.
“Dad’s listening this afternoon, so big bad John, we love you mate,” he concluded.
John Fordham is a celebrated wine critic and founder of celebrity management business, The Fordham Company. In his career, he has worked with a number of memorable names including Alan Jones, Mark Taylor, John Laws, Lisa Wilkinson, Andrew Johns, Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Tracy Grimshaw.
Amid his health battles, Fordham created a foundation to assist in finding a cure for throat cancer, called Head and Neck Foundation.
Earlier in 2019, John shared a personal article he wrote for The Sunday Telegraph where he revealed Billy Joel’s music had given him strength through radiotherapy.
“For the 34 radiotherapy sessions … the same sequence of Billy Joel tracks kept my mind focused on getting through the ordeal,” he wrote.
“And each time, when Billy’s signature Piano Man track started, I knew only moments remained before the session would end.”
Fordham even had the opportunity to meet Billy Joel backstage at a concert in Denver, United States, back in 2017.
“When I referenced one of his top hits Only The Good Die Young, he smiled and said “man, you’ve just got to hang in there”,” he wrote of the meeting.
In honour of his father, Ben played some of John’s favourite songs on his show.