Sir Ian McKellen. Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

In an interview with Mirror, Ian McKellen was worried they’d make him sound bad: “You are going to write ‘Ian McKellen is decrepit. He can’t see, he can’t hear he can’t pee, he’s having his teeth done.’” But the joking tone changed only slightly, when he added: “I’ve had prostate cancer for six or seven years.” The fact that he isn’t sure if it’s six or seven, might speak to the severity of the situation. He doesn’t think people should worry: “When you have got it you monitor it and you have to be careful it doesn’t spread. But if it is contained in the prostate it’s no big deal.” If Gandalf says it’s no big deal, it’s no big deal. In other news, Ian McKellen is still the best.