911 star Lee Brennan has recalled his childhood cancer ordeals and how they inspired him to dream big (Picture: BBC)
Things got incredibly emotional as one 90s boyband heartthrob recalled being labelled ‘the cancer boy’ at a young age.
Lee Brennan shot to fame as part of 911 alongside Jimmy Constable and Spike Dawbarn.
The trio achieved superstardom in the UK, having formed in 1995 and going on to score 10 top 10 hits.
As their fame rocketed, they sold millions of records internationally, even acquiring a fanbase in Southeast Asia, where their first two albums went to number one.
When 911 was put together, Lee was just 22, while Jimmy was 24 and Spike was 21.
Reflecting on their early days, Lee, now 51, appeared in a new BBC Two series called Boybands Forever, in which he spoke about why pursuing a pop career meant so much to him.
The pop star rose to fame in the 1990s (Picture: BBC)
He had rare cancer at ages nine and 15 (Picture: BBC)
‘I met Lee, and as soon as I saw him, I thought… perfect,’ Steve Gilmour, 911’s manager, recalled to cameras. ‘He just looked the part.’
‘And I’m just Lee from Carlisle, working as a receptionist at a ten-pin bowling centre,’ Lee laughed.
‘He was the same height, same sort of personality… everything just felt right,’ added Steve, who had no experience managing a boyband at that time.
‘I was running around telling everyone that I might be in a boyband. “Oh, I might be like Take That! Oh my God, can you imagine? This could be it!”‘
He went on: ‘I think there was something inside me that was quite needy and craving something like that, needing some attention.’
The singer then took a moment to compose himself before digging up details of his childhood.
‘One minute. I’ve no idea where this will go…’, he told the camera operator who asked if he was able to continue.
He lost his hair, which had a huge impact on his confidence (Picture: BBC)
Growing tearful, Lee shared: ‘So, when I was nine and 15, I had Hodgkin’s lymphoma.’
As per the NHS, Hodgkin lymphoma is an uncommon cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels and glands spread throughout your body.
‘I was known as “the cancer boy” at school,’ he said.
Old photos flashed up on screen, showing Lee looking somewhat frail after losing his hair.
‘Seeing yourself change in front of the mirror… the way you look, losing all your hair, not thinking much of myself, self-worth wise.
‘And I used to wear a cap around the school.
‘I always still had these big dreams and aspirations and goals… and I want to just do everything because I never thought I’d get to do stuff.’
Lee was part of 911 alongside Spike Dawburn and Jimmy Constable (Picture: Bryn Colton/Getty Images)
The group sold millions of records around the world (Picture: Brian Rasic/Getty Images)
Lee’s cancer treatment left him infertile. Speaking previously about his ordeals at such a tender age, the musician said they completely altered his perspective of the world.
‘Lying in a hospital ward when I was really ill taught me many things, not least patience and observance, and about the power of our thoughts and how to use them positively,’ he told Contact magazine in 2022.
His desire to help people motivated Lee to start studying counselling skills at college.
That same year, he launched a nutrition and coaching business.
Having previously battled with his own self-confidence, the performer said he’s now ‘proud’ of the person he’s grown into.
‘I’m proud I went from the boy who had cancer twice to the boy in a top-selling boyband. But I think what I’m most proud of is how I’ve overcome all the different emotional obstacles that cancer can put in your way,’ he shared.
‘I live life without being afraid of making mistakes or failing at something, and I think it’s a positive mindset to have and can open so many doors to a fulfilling life.’
911 have reunited on several occasions in recent years (Picture: Lorne Thomson/Redferns)
Lee developed a more positive, ambitious outlook on life after spending so much time in hospital (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
After their initial breakup, 911 reunited in 2012 as part of ITV2’s reality-documentary series The Big Reunion, which also featured the likes of Atomic Kitten, Liberty X, Five, and Honeyz.
The groups toured arenas, prompting 911 to release a comeback album, later allowing them to headline their own tour.
Most recently, in 2019, 911 made a comeback for their devoted supporters in Southeast Asia with a sold-out concert.
Then, in February last year, the group collaborated with Vietnamese singer Đức Phúc for a bilingual version of I Do in English and Vietnamese.
Watch Boybands Forever on BBC iPlayer.
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