After battling cancer in private, Watts, 74, was diagnosed with severe sepsis, causing him to collapse, end up in hospital and learn to walk again.

In a recording made in June from his bed at Netcare Hospital, Watts opened up to the plenary audience about his battle with cancer but noted that he plans to return to the show.

“I really just want to say to our viewers, thank you for all the love, messages and prayers that give us all hope. And of course, thank you for continuing to watch Carte Blanche. I’ll be back for a drink soon.” Amazing One week, cheers now,” he said.

Last year, Watts was diagnosed with skin cancer that had spread to his lungs. With the support of his family and specialists, he was able to continue carte blanche, but a sepsis infection in March made his cancer treatment more difficult.

In an interview with Rapport newspaper on Sunday, Watts announced that he would not be returning to the Combined Arts Productions show on M-Net (DStv 101) on Sunday night and that his time on the show as host and moderator had come to an end .

“We discussed a while ago that this would be my last year anyway. And the show is in great shape. Absolutely fantastic people and journalists who don’t flinch from asking hard questions.”

Watts added that he noticed a lump in his armpit and went to see a doctor in early 2022, but didn’t agree to see a doctor until months later, at the constant urging of his wife, Belinda.

“Like a lot of people, I wasn’t listening,” he said. “I had it in there for a few months and when I finally went to the doctor it was much bigger. He sent me to a sonar and found spots on my lungs. The mass couldn’t be removed because it was Like that.” “Then I started the first immunotherapy,” Watts explained.

Due to lung cancer, Watts sometimes needs to use an oxygen machine because of his reduced lung capacity.

He also had to stop chemotherapy to prevent a sepsis attack – even though his oncologist told him he needed to start it again. Still, he remains positive.

When asked if Watts would not be returning with full authority, M-Net told News24, “Nothing has changed on our part since the last update. The Carte Blanche team is always in touch with Derek and his family.”