As many know, Gary Lineker announced he was leaving BBC’s Match of the Day. For a while, it was uncertain who would be replacing Lineker. Eventually, at the beginning of the year, it was revealed that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan would be the new replacements.
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Gabby and Mark have previously worked together, hosting The Sports Agents podcast. However, did you know that the two presenters are linked through a tragedy? Logan and Chapman have both suffered due to cancer.
Mark Chapman lost his wife to cancer
As reported by The Sun, Mark Chapman was forced to say goodbye to his wife, Sara, on June 3, 2020, after she suffered from cancer. Sara was only 44 when she passed away.
Chapman has been private about his family life and doesn’t share much with the public. As per Hello!, he and Sara married in 2001 and welcomed three children: Ben, Jessie, and Millie.
Mark has spoken about his family, saying that they are ‘very proud’ of him, but he explained he didn’t find what he did ‘anything particularly special’ and he didn't do it for the fame.
I know my family are very proud of me, but I don't look at what I do as being anything particularly special.
I've got a great job and it's so much fun, but I don't go in for any of that celebrity nonsense. I'd much prefer a pint at The Railway any day.
Gabby Logan’s husband had cancer
As mentioned above, Gabby Logan has also endured a spouse suffering from cancer. Fortunately for Gabby, the disease did not claim her husband.
As per Virgin Radio, Gabby revealed her husband, former Scotland rugby player Kenny Logan, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022. Speaking on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Gabby explained that Kenny had ‘no symptoms’.
She added that Kenny went to the male health clinic to have some tests done after listening to Davina McCall’s podcast, where she speaks about hormones. Upon receiving his blood test results, they learned that his PSA was high.
So, he goes off to a male health clinic and gets some blood tests. And when he went to get the results, they said, ‘Your testosterone is fine, mate, but PSA is high.’ And he said, ‘What is a PSA? I have no idea what this is.’
That is the indicator, often, that there may be something wrong with your prostate and it may be enlarged. After six months of more invasive tests, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Following his diagnosis, Kenny had his prostate removed as it was deemed the best course of treatment. Thankfully, the doctors had found the cancer early, and it hadn’t spread. As per Virgin Radio, Kenny Logan received the all-clear in 2023.
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Sources used:
BBC News: ‘BBC announces Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan as new Match of the Day presenters’
Heart: ‘Brand new podcast The Sports Agents announced, hosted by Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman’
Hello!: ‘Inside Olympics broadcaster Mark Chapman's tragic family ordeal’
The Sun: ‘LOVE OF HIS LIFE Who was Mark Chapman’s wife Sara?’
Virgin Radio: ‘He had no symptoms’ - Gabby Logan opens up about her husband Kenny Logan’s cancer diagnosis’
