Beloved Hey Hey It’s Saturday star John Blackman has revealed that he will undergo more surgery in the coming days.
The 72-year-old, who is best known for voicing puppet Dickie Knee on the variety show, took to Twitter to share the heartbreaking news by posting a photo of him in a hospital ed.
“My website, Facebook and Twitter postings will be inactive for a few days as I prepare for another round of facial and dental surgery at The Alfred – updates recommence early March – to paraphrase Jeff Fenesh, ‘I love youse all – see you on the other side,’” tweeted Blackman.
While the star did not explain any further about his upcoming surgery, he has sat down with A Current Affair in the past to talk about his health struggles.
In the 2018 interview, Blackman revealed he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer, known as basal-cell carcinoma, that doctors feared would spread to his brain if not removed.
The cancer had formed on his chin from what he thought was “just a little pimple” that had stuck around for two years.
He then underwent a 10-hour operation at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital, where surgeons removed Blackman’s jaw and replaced it with a part of his thigh bone – a surgery that could have altered his voice and end his career.
“[My surgeon] said, ‘Well, just get prepared to not be able to do all the things you’ve been able to do for the past 50 years’. Which is a bit of a kick in the guts,” Blackman told ACA. “To perform, you have to look good, you have to sound good, you have to sound confident and be confident. I just won’t be able to do that anymore. Life without doing that is just so alien to me. I mean, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Ever since his announcement on Twitter, Blackman’s friends and family have sent him their well wishes.
“Sending you love and strength xxxx,” wrote interior designer and The Block judge Shaynna Blaze.
sending you love and strength xxxx
— Shaynna Blaze (@ShaynnaBlaze) February 25, 2020
“Looks bloody painful, Blackers. Best o’luck,” tweeted journalist Hugh Reminton.
Looks bloody painful, Blackers. Best o’luck…
— Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) February 25, 2020
“Sending best wishes John,” tweeted comedian Jane Kennedy.
Sending best wishes John
— Jane Kennedy (@Jane_L_Kennedy) February 25, 2020











