A Colchester tree surgeon has won a legion of fans after speaking about his cancer battle while appearing on Channel 4's First Dates Hotel.

Jack Goldring, from Colchester, started going to the doctors in October 2016 as he had a continual virus.

In November 2017, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma after finding a lump in his armpit.

Luckily, he was given the all clear in June 2018.

During his appearance on the show, which aired last night, Jack was paired up with Thalia, a 24-year-old from Hornchurch.

The first episode of the series saw singletons heading to a Italian hotel to meet someone special.

Jack, who described himself as a modern day Tarzan, spoke about his cancer battle during the show.

He said: "I could just feel in my body something wasn't right. Never in a million, million years did I ever dream it would be cancer.

"It turned out to be Hodgkins Lymphoma. If it was any other type of cancer I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you now.

Jack Goldring meets Thalia during an appearance of First Dates Hotel. Picture: Channel 4

Jack Goldring meets Thalia during an appearance of First Date's Hotel. Picture: Channel 4

"I got told over the phone. I looked at my mum and her face just dropped. Everything inside me just sunk. The emotion of just darkness, literally you think this is it.

"I said to them 'I am not going to die' and they said to me we can't promise you anything."

Jack then underwent six months of chemotherapy.

He added: "When I got told about my cancer I didn't want to tell any of my family apart from my mum.

"The days where I couldn't feed myself and didn't want to eat my mum stayed strong for me for the whole time.

Jack Goldring meets Thalia during an appearance of First Dates Hotel. Picture: Channel 4

Jack Goldring meets Thalia during an appearance of First Date's Hotel. Picture: Channel 4

"I've been all clear for one year now. I wake up every day and look at life differently - I love life now."

Speaking ahead of meeting Thalia, Jack said he was hoping to meet a "genuine person" he could "settle down with."

The pair's date ended with a kiss much to the delight of fans.

They also enjoyed a second date, heading down to the spa together the morning after the first date.