Famous names affected by prostate cancer have spoken of their disappointment after mass screening for the illness was not recommended for use on the NHS.

The National Screening Committee (NSC), comprised of doctors and economists, told the government that screening is “likely to cause more harm than good”.

Its decision means the NHS is unlikely to offer mass screening for men over the age of 45.

Six-time Olympic gold-medallist Sir Chris Hoy, former Prime Minister David Cameron, Sir Stephen Fry, actor and author Tony Robinson and journalist Dermot Murnaghan, who have all been diagnosed with the disease, spoke out after today’s decision.

In a draft recommendation, the committee said the reason it was “not recommending whole population screening using the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test was that it was likely to cause more harm than good”.

Instead, it proposes a targeted screening programme every two years for men with specific genetic mutations, known as BRCA-1 and BRCA-2, between the ages of 45 and 61.

But Sir Chris, who confirmed last year that his prostate cancer diagnosis was terminal, with doctors giving him two to four years to live, criticised the move.

The former Team GB cyclist, who confirmed in February 2024 that he was undergoing treatment, said: “I am extremely disappointed and saddened by the recommendation announced by the National Screening Committee today to rule against national screening for men at high risk of prostate cancer.

“More than 12,000 men are dying of prostate cancer every year; it is now the UK’s most common cancer in men, with black men at double the risk, along with men with a family history, like myself.

“While introducing regular checks for men carrying the BRCA genes is a very small step forward, it is not enough. I know, first hand, that by sharing my story following my own diagnosis two years ago, many, many lives have been saved.

“Early screening and diagnosis saves lives. I am determined to continue to use my platform to raise awareness, encourage open discussion, raise vital funds for further research and support, and to campaign for change.”

His views were echoed by Lord Cameron, who this month announced he was treated for prostate cancer last year.

Lord Cameron said in a post on X: “I am disappointed by today’s recommendation on prostate cancer screening from the National Committee.

“Targeted screening is a natural first step – but the recommendation today is far too targeted, not including black men or men with a family history, both high-risk groups.

“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among British men. We are letting down too many men if we don’t push for a wider screening programme that includes all high-risk groups – and not just the men involved, but their families too, who risk losing a loved one unnecessarily. As I know all too well, prostate cancer can be symptomless early on.

“That’s why screening is so essential – catching the cancers early when they can be more effectively and successfully treated, like in my own case.”

Sir Tony, journalist Mr Murnaghan and retired footballer Les Ferdinand also voiced their disappointment after the decision.

Sir Tony, 79, who starred as Baldrick in Blackadder, said: “I’m bitterly disappointed. Getting an early diagnosis for prostate cancer could save your life, but we still have no screening programme for it in the UK.

“I was lucky I found my cancer early, but nearly 10,000 men a year are diagnosed too late for a cure, and that’s just not right.”

Broadcaster Mr Murnaghan, 67, added: “With prostate cancer cases higher than they’ve ever been, and the disease dominating the national conversation, I really thought we were heading to an exciting moment here.

“I’m so disappointed that the committee has decided not to recommend screening – it felt about time progress was made for men.”

He added in a statement shared with Sky News: “An acceptable halfway house, would perhaps be to extend screening to black men – and those with a known history of cancer in their family. But clearly a full nationwide screening programme would be best.”

Sir Stephen, who is a Prostate Cancer Research ambassador who revealed in 2018 he had undergone surgery after being diagnosed with the disease, said: “I’m deeply disappointed by today’s news. Men in the UK deserve so much better. Prostate cancer remains the second biggest cancer killer of men in this country, with more than 12,000 dying every year.

“The only way we will make a dent in that appalling statistic is by catching prostate cancer early, before symptoms appear – and the best way to do that is through a screening programme. I hope the country sees sense.”

Mr Ferdinand, whose grandfather died from prostate cancer, added: “I’ve seen members of my family survive prostate cancer, because their cancer was found in time.

“Without a national screening programme, the responsibility to find prostate cancer early and in time for a cure rests entirely on men’s shoulders, and it shouldn’t be this way.

“Black men are at double the risk of prostate cancer and twice as likely to die, and something has to be done.”

Colin McFarlane, an actor who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023, told Sky News presenter Jonathan Samuels the decision was a “massive mistake”.

“I’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but I’m not having any treatment. I have something called active surveillance, so every three months I have a PSA blood test, and then once a year I have an MRI,” he said.

McFarlane said black men over the age of 45 are at high risk, and “should be invited for screening”. He added: “I personally think men over 50 should be invited for screening, because they’re also at risk. I’m concerned now for all the black men out there who are high risk.”

NSC added it did not recommend extensive screening for black men due to a current lack of evidence and data.

The committee also does not recommend targeted screening for men with a family history of the disease, who are also at a higher risk of prostate cancer.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he would consider the findings ahead of March’s final decision, adding that he wanted to see earlier diagnosis and quicker treatment, but that needed to be balanced against “the harms that wider screening could cause to men”.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, a former national cancer director and chairman of the NSC, told a briefing that modelling on PSA shows “whole population screening may lead to a small reduction in prostate cancer deaths, but the very high levels of overdiagnoses” means the harms outweigh the benefits.

Experts are also waiting to see data from a large trial launched by Prostate Cancer UK last week into whether combining PSA with other tests, such as rapid MRI scans, may lead to recommending population-wide screening.

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The trial is looking at the most promising screening techniques available, including PSA blood tests, genetic tests and 10-minute MRI scans, and whether they can be combined for a national screening programme.

The results will be ready within two years, it is hoped.

Mr Streeting added: “In the meantime, we will keep making progress on cutting cancer waiting times and investing in research into prostate cancer detection – in the last 12 months, 193,000 more patients received a diagnosis for suspected cancer on time.

“We are also providing funding to the £42m TRANSFORM trial, which has the potential to revolutionise prostate cancer screening, cutting out harmful side effects and making screening far more accurate.”

A delivery driver who killed a seven-year-old girl in a head-on crash during a dangerous overtake manoeuvre in Lincolnshire has been jailed for six years.

Veselin Dudenski, 39, was out delivering parcels when his white Citroen Relay van struck a blue Kia Rio carrying Elsie Gascoigne in the back seat.

The incident happened in Metheringham Heath Lane, Nocton, on the evening of 3 January this year.

Elsie died the next day in hospital.

Her father, who was driving the car and had taken her shopping and to McDonald’s before the crash, suffered fractures to his breast bone, lower back and arm, including a “major injury with significant long-term implications”.

The defendant, a professional van and lorry driver for 17 years, was banned from driving for eight years during Friday’s sentencing at Lincoln Crown Court.

Dudenski, who the court heard has a young child, is likely to face automatic deportation as he is a foreign national.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving in relation to Elsie’s father.

Prosecutor Claire Holmes told the court: “[The defendant] made a dangerous overtake of an unknown vehicle. At the time he overtook this vehicle, he was approaching a hidden dip in the road.

“There were warnings of the dip, namely a road sign and road markings. A careful and competent driver should have been fully aware of the hidden dip.”

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She said a warning sign about a hidden dip stood 425m from the crash site and noted if the defendant had waited to overtake, he would have seen the oncoming Kia.

The hearing was attended by members of Elsie’s family.

In a statement read to the court, Elsie’s parents said she was “bright, loving, funny and full of life”.

“Losing Elsie is not just the loss of a child, it’s the loss of our entire future,” they said.

“We have lost her laughter, her dreams and everything she would have become.”

Defending Dudenski, Charles Myatt told the court the defendant believed the road was clear as he started the overtake.

Mr Myatt said the defendant was usually a “decent, law-abiding driver” who made a “catastrophic error of judgement”.

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued across parts of the UK, covering the weekend and extending into early next week.

Heavy rain could cause travel disruption, difficult driving conditions and possibly impact outdoor plans, the Met Office is warning.

Forecasters said a developing area of low pressure would move across southern and central parts of the UK on Saturday, bringing “bands of heavy rain and gusty winds”, particularly across Wales, the Midlands and southern England.

Check the weather forecast where you are

As much as 50mm of rain is possible in some places, with the potential for 20-30mm to fall across England and Wales.

There is a low chance of between 60-80mm of rain falling on high ground.

Jason Kelly, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “While the exact track of the low remains uncertain at this time, there is a clear signal for strong winds and periods of heavy rain, which could lead to surface water flooding and delays to road and rail travel.

“Rain will also push into northeast England during Saturday, some of which could fall as snow over higher ground when the system meets colder air coming down from the north.

“Sunday will be drier and brighter, albeit colder, for many areas with blustery winds lingering near some North Sea coasts. Expect widespread frost overnight into Monday before the next weather system approaches.”

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Fresh Atlantic system to bring more rain

Another Atlantic system will sweep in from the South West at the end of the weekend, the Met Office said.

It is expected to bring further rain, with the heaviest rainfall likely over parts of south and southwest England and South Wales.

The Met Office said there will also be strong winds, with gusts reaching gale force along exposed coasts.

“Yellow warnings for rain have been issued and we are closely monitoring developments. Forecasts will be updated as the situation evolves,” a spokesperson said.

There is a chance homes and businesses could be flooded, with a small chance some communities will become cut off by flooded roads, the forecaster added.

It estimated the chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses was “slight”.

Next week, the weather is expected to remain changeable, with occasional dry spells.

Homes across Scotland left without power

It comes after homes across Scotland were left without power following severe gales overnight.

The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for wind, covering Orkney, Shetland and western parts of the Highlands and Argyll and Bute, which expired at 11am on Friday.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said gusts reached 83mph on the Western Isles and 75mph on the Isle of Mull.

A spokesperson said around 1,000 homes on the Isle of Mull were without power by mid-morning on Friday, but most have since been restored.