The comic duo entered into light hearted banter about the
digital rectal examination (DRE) during the sketch which is due to
be aired tonight on Sky1 at 10pm.
The pair were joined by Dr Frank Chinegwundoh, Lead Urology
Consultant and Project Lead at Newham University Hospital Trust,
who explained to them about the most common cancer in men in the
UK, and gave a reluctant Pilkington an internal inspection.
More than 10,000 people have viewed the comic sketch, which has
since been uploaded onto You Tube.
Ricky said: "Karl is the typical 'bloke' who would rather take
his chances with prostate cancer than have another human being put
a finger where a finger shouldn't go. I knew men everywhere would
reconsider and say, 'if Karl can do it so can I'."
Ricky's support of raising awareness of prostate cancer first
hit the headlines in 2005 when a radio advert he scripted and
recorded for The Prostate Cancer Charity was banned by the Radio
Advertising Clearance Centre, although the ban was later
overturned.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity,
said: "We are extremely grateful to Ricky, Stephen, Karl, and Dr
Chinegwundoh for using comedy to raise awareness of prostate cancer
and the diagnostic process to literally thousands of people.
Through his comedy Ricky has once again broken down some of the
misconceptions about the disease and helped to raise awareness of
it.
"We know men can be reluctant to go and see their doctor if they
have problems 'down below' and so to script a sketch that questions
this embarrassment in a non-threatening way is just brilliant."
Gervais later urged his 714,856 Twitter followers to support The
Prostate Cancer Charity to continue it's work by donating
money to the cause.
You can view Ricky's prostate cancer chat on 'An Idiot Abroad'
here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypphWN1eKVU
ENDS
For further information contact: Vivienne Francis, Nikki Nagler
on 0208 222 7136/7670/7166. Out of hours contact: 0798 432 5001.
Email: Vivienne.Francis@prostate-cancer.org.uk
or Nicola.Nagler@prostate-cancer.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
About The Prostate Cancer Charity
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in
the UK. Every year in the UK 36,000 men are diagnosed with prostate
cancer. One man dies every hour of prostate cancer in the UK
African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop
prostate cancer than white men. The Prostate Cancer Charity is
striving for a world where lives are no longer limited by prostate
cancer. The Charity is fighting prostate cancer on every front -
through research, support, information and campaigning