'I thought it was a tapeworm'

Frank Sidebottom first thought his cancer was a tapeworm, he has revealed.

Chris Sievey, the comedian behind the cult papier-mache-headed character, went for a check-up when he was having trouble eating. But a gastroscopy revealed the cause was not the parasitic worms, but a tumour close to his oesophagus.

In character, he told Chortle: ‘At first I thought I had a tape worm in me. Have you seen them? They're ace... like a monster from another world but live in you and nick all your food

‘But after a scan or two and a camera down me they said it was cancer...’

He joked that he hoped they kept the film, so he could use it on his Timperley TV internet show.

And he said of his treatment: ‘At first I tried 300 quids’ worth of Gaviscon, but that was bobbins. 'll just go with whatever they say after trying that.’

Sievey, who lives in Timperley, Greater Manchester, is auctioning off a self-portrait of himself entitled Me After Chemotherapy on eBay to raise money for cancer research – with bidding already exceeding £400.

He doesn’t yet know if he will need that treatment, but has vowed to continue gigging regardless.

He said: ‘After finding out that I've got bobbins cancer, the world has gone potty. I've had loads of press,.offered loads of interviews and telly and they are playing me loads on the radio, which is just what I had in mind for the month of May as I celebrate 25 years in fantastic semi-professional showbusiness this month, but maybe not quite the way I planned.

‘I’m looking forward to all my ace concerts. I always give 100 per cent gusto I'm currently working on my Timperley TV and of course doing my Radio Timperley shows every week – and I've got my World Cup single Three Shirts On My Line coming out in a couple of weeks, with all the money going to cancer.

‘My fans have been brilliantly supportive.’

Published: 25 May 2010