Oliver Callan Reveals Skin Cancer Diagnosis and Returns to RTÉ Radio 1 with a Smile

Beloved comedian Oliver Callan has opened up about his recent skin cancer diagnosis and the surgery that forced him to take a brief hiatus from his RTÉ Radio 1 show.

On Monday morning, Oliver Callan made a triumphant return to the airwaves, expressing his gratitude to Maura Derrane for stepping in on short notice. “Good to be back,” he declared, before sharing his experience with basal cell carcinoma, a type of mild skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Diagnosis

Oliver explained, “I went off for what I thought would be a minor procedure, expecting to be off-air for just two days. However, it ended up being a longer recovery period. Like many of us with our Irish skin, I developed basal cell carcinoma. It doesn’t spread, so it’s not overly frightening, but it needed to be surgically removed. Mine was located on my face, between the edge of my nose and the corner of my lip—a delicate spot when someone approaches you with a scalpel.”

He continued, “Because of the location, I couldn’t talk properly and was advised against laughing out loud for two weeks to avoid a nasty scar.”

With his characteristic humour, Oliver added, “Fortunately, there wasn’t much to smile about while I was gone, given all the American carnage and the chaos over the immigration element of our housing crisis. But I’m back now. I did a lot of research for the show and read some upcoming books from authors we’ll be meeting over the summer.”

Addressing his new look, Oliver joked, “I’ve started growing a moustache because I can’t shave near the scar yet. As a result, I look like an inept sidekick of a provincial detective in a 1980s southern ITV drama. That’s the look I’m going for.”

Oliver Callan’s candid revelation and his upbeat return to the radio have endeared him even more to his listeners, who are undoubtedly thrilled to have him back on air.

For more stories and insights, visit It’s On.

Instagram: @itson.ie

TikTok videos and information: @itson.ie