Trevor Sorbie Faces Final Days with Defiance ‘I’ll Go When I’m Ready’ Says Legendary Hairdresser
Trevor Sorbie, renowned hairdresser and regular on This Morning, has shared that he has only weeks to live after choosing to decline chemotherapy, which he feels would only extend his life by a short, painful month. The 76-year-old, known for his celebrity clientele and pioneering charity work, recently opened up about his decision to forgo further treatment, choosing instead to embrace his final days with dignity and control. Diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer that has since spread to his liver, Sorbie explained to The Times, “Chemo might give me another month, but I can’t face any more of that poison”, reports the Mirror.
When he asked a nurse if he’d live to see Christmas, she replied, “We don’t know, Trevor,” a response that spurred Sorbie’s determination to remain in control. “I’ve got cancer in my body, but not in here. My brain is my engine, and I’ll go when I’m ready,” he asserted, determined to defy medical predictions.
Sorbie, whose legendary career spans over styling icons like the Queen, Helen Mirren, and Paul McCartney, first realized something was wrong after experiencing severe bleeding. Following a hospital visit, he learned of his cancer diagnosis, an experience he shared alongside his wife, Carole. “I looked at Carole and she looked at me; we were both speechless,” he recalled. “So I went and had a big gin and tonic.” The devastating news led Sorbie to focus on spending his remaining time enjoying life as best as he can, a philosophy he has maintained throughout his health battle.
In 2009, Sorbie turned his attention to founding My New Hair, a charity born from his experience styling a wig for his sister-in-law, Jackie, who was undergoing chemotherapy. His charity has since trained thousands of hairdressers not only in wig styling but also in compassionate communication for clients facing terminal illness. Grateful for his supportive wife, Sorbie described Carole as his “Florence Nightingale and Mother Teresa rolled into one,” sharing that she has been by his side throughout his ordeal, even calling an ambulance when his symptoms worsened in 2019.
Sorbie revealed that he wishes to pass away peacefully at home and has expressed a desire not to have a funeral, saying, “Too upsetting.” Instead, he hopes his ashes will be interred with Carole’s and those of their beloved dog. “But I’m going to defy medical science,” he insists. “If the cancer reaches my brain, then I’ll accept it, but until then, I’m in charge, and I’m going on my terms.”
Reflecting on his life and legacy, Sorbie shared on This Morning, “I’ve helped many women through cancer, cutting wigs for them. People handle it in different ways.” True to his character, Sorbie is navigating his final journey with strength, gratitude, and an unyielding will to live on his own terms.