Death Valley's Timothy Spall's 'pain and horror' over health scare

Wales Online

25-05-2025

Death Valley's Timothy Spall's 'pain and horror' over health scare
The award-winning actor said his leukaemia diagnosis was 'a shock'
Timothy Spall stars as John Chapel in the new BBC comedy crime dram Death Valley
Actor and BAFTA winner, Timothy Spall has shared his harrowing experience of facing leukaemia, revealing there was a point where he feared he "might not make it". The 68-year-old will star in BBC's new comedy crime drama, Death Valley, where he plays retired TV detective John Chapel.
The esteemed actor, is celebrated for his decades of work on TV and film, notably his roles as Barry in '80s classic Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter series as well as his performance in the 2014 film Mr Turner. After receiving a diagnosis of the life limiting condition, he described the prospect of leaving his family as "unbearable".
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In an intimate discussion with Saga Magazine, Spall recounted the moment he received his leukaemia diagnosis in 1996, and the ensuing "horror" at the thought of dying and its impact on his family. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter .
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He said: "I was 39 and we had three kids, and out of the blue I was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease called acute myeloid leukaemia. When I was told I had it, I got down on my knees and asked God to spare me for my family."
Timothy continued, reflecting on the darkest times: "There was a time when they thought I might not make it. The only really unbearable thing was what my family would do if I went? I wouldn't be there to look after them, and that was my job as a husband and father."
The English actor is happily married to writer Shane Spall and is the proud father of three children: Rafe, Pascale, and Mercedes.
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Spall delved deeper into his emotional turmoil: "The pain and the horror of what me dying would do to the people I loved was the only unbearable side of it. The rest I could take.
"One day, between treatments, the doctors had done tests and they thought I'd relapsed. A massive mushroom-type thing had grown in my lung. I was about to go and have full body radiation and a bone marrow transplant knowing there were things in my body that'd potentially kill me. That morning, I woke up and thought, sod this, I'm not going to die."
When discussing his relationship with his wife of 44 years, he said that the pair were inseparable and practically joined at the hip. He explained: "We got married four months after we met. I think there is a lot to be said for marrying someone you don't know. I was just in love with her. She is also my best mate."
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Timothy and his wife, also share a love for Wales. His new venture, Death Valley, was filmed and is set in South Wales which the actor called "extremely beautiful."
He said: "I have worked in Wales a couple of times, and my wife and I also went all along the coast on our boat. I know every port along the way, so I've spent a bit of time there, the coast is so beautiful."
Timothy continued: "Cardiff is a lovely, very friendly, and welcoming place. We were based in Cardiff, but you are half an hour away from the most exquisite countryside."
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The leading actor, who plays TV detective John Chapel, even calls it "god's country" at one point in the series.
Death Valley will air on Sunday, May 25 at 8.15pm on BBC One, however the whole boxset will be launching on BBC iPlayer at the same time.