barman Merlin Griffiths delighted fans by sharing a positive update after his recent bowel cancer surgery, announcing he had been discharged from hospital.
In , the Channel 4 star announced he had been diagnosed with .
He has been keeping fans up to date with his journey in recent weeks, sharing last week that it was time for his tumour to be removed.
Merlin had some more positive news to share, confirming on Thursday he had been able to leave the hospital to begin his recovery process.
It comes just a few days after he confirmed his surgery had been successful.
Alongside a snap of himself outdoors and smiling, he wrote: ’And home again. 6 days from surgery. #NHS #davincisurgicalsystem is quite something.
‘It’s taken weeks off hospitalisation time! Road to recovery next. #cancer #bowelcancer #stoma.’
His First Dates co-star Fred Sirieix was amongst the first to comment, and said: ‘Best wishes and lots of ❤️Merlin x.’
A fan responded: ‘You look amazing young man. Remember this feeling, there is nothing else quite like it and everything looks so much better than it did before. Take it easy and be kind to yourself, you deserve it x.’
Another wrote: ‘Wishing you a very speedy recovery.’
It comes after he, with the caption: ‘Thank you #NHS for literally saving my life.
He had earlier posted a picture of himself in bed on Instagram, writing in the caption: ‘2am. Tubes outta everywhere. Aches and pains. But no tumour!’
On Monday afternoon, with another hospital bed selfie, wearing both a hospital gown and dressing gown.
The reality star gave a cheery thumbs-up to the camera and wrote: ‘Almost there. Another day and then off home,’ adding the hashtags ‘#bowelcancer’ and ‘#stoma’ as well as the rather tongue-in-cheek ‘#alive’.
When Merlin first announced his diagnosis, he explained that he was maintaining a ‘positive outlook’, but admitted that he has a ‘morbid sense of humour’.
He recalled the moment he told his daughter Alix, who was seven at the time and who he shares with his wife Lucille, that he had cancer, telling her that while it’s ‘very serious’, he thinks ‘it should be okay’.
‘She understands that people can die but I told her cancer comes in different varieties and in different ways too – and that many people come through it,’ he said.
First Dates airs Thursdays at 10pm on Channel 4.
