EXC: First Dates’ Fred Sirieix issues update on co-star Merlin Griffiths, 47, amid his bowel cancer

Fred Sirieix has issued an update on his friend Merlin Griffiths after he underwent surgery to remove a tumour, following a stage three bowel cancer diagnosis.

The maître d’, 50, who has ensured to keep in touch with his ‘incredible’ First Dates co-star, 47, amid his health woes, said the barman is ‘incredibly stoic in the face of what’s happening to him’.

He told MailOnline: ‘I really love him. He’s incredibly positive and pragmatic as well. I’m just not surprised because that’s the type of guy he is. You can always rely on Merlin.

‘And we’ve been speaking over the phone and texting, I’ve just enquired how he is and making sure he’s ok. He’s obviously in the hands of the NHS and the doctors there.’

Merlin received robotic surgery to have his tumour removed in April, after medical tests unearthed a growth that measured 4.5cm in length.

Fred explained: ‘He’s had an operation not so long ago, started to cycle, he did a 10k, which is difficult because he has a stoma. It’s very very tough.

‘It reminds you of how lucky you are. If you’re healthy and you have your wits about you, that’s it. You are having a good life.

‘But it can be all taken away from us so quickly and unexpectedly so we’ve got to cherish and enjoy every single moment.

‘I speak very often with Merlin and he’s in good spirits. Maybe we’ll sit down and have a nice roast and a pint after a walk on a Sunday.’

The TV personality also gushed about his professional diver daughter Andrea, 17, who he shares with his ex-partner Alex Spendolini.

Not only was she selected as the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year for 2020, she competed with Team GB at the summer Olympics in Toyko last year.

A proud Fred raved: ‘It’s amazing and it’s all her own doing and hard work. She does it by herself. She’s very studious and she works very hard in everything she does.

‘As a dad, that’s the best thing you can hope and wish for your children… to excel, to enjoy what they do and she’s a very happy human being so it’s wonderful to see her blossom like that and enjoy herself.’

While his child dives from the nail-bitingly high 10 metre board regularly, her famous father admitted he has only managed to plunge from five.

Continuing to laud Andrea, he continued: ‘I don’t really worry too much, I’m just proud of her. She’s capable to do those dives, physically she is.

‘It’s the mental side of diving which is key really and that makes the difference in those competitions when you’re competing for a spot on the podium.

‘It’s all about how you feel because they all can dive, it’s just about performing here and then. But I have no idea what she’ll do next. Your guess is as good as mine.

‘I’m happy for her, to see her achieve what she’s achieved. She’s my daughter. I love her no matter what. She’s my baby so whatever happens, it’s gonna be good.’

Fred – who has teamed up with French biscuit brand LU to mark its launch in the UK – went on to rave about his childhood love of the sweet treats.

He said: ‘It’s a partnership made in heaven, for me anyway, I’ve been eating these LU biscuits from when I was a little boy.

‘My mum used to buy them all the time and so they were in a box in a cupboard under the stairs and every time I had the chance to go and raid the cupboard there, I’d have the Lu biscuits.

‘And in fact I’m so glad they’re now for sale here because whenever I go to France I go with a car and I always bring back a load of stuff in my boot including the Lu biscuits so that’s one of the go-to stuff that I always buy.’

Fred Sirieix has teamed up with French biscuit brand LU to mark its launch in the UK. Join his mission to turn the afternoon lull into an afternoon LU and share your afternoon moments with loved ones at #TasteTheLove.