Birmingham comedian Dave Ismay: 'Why I was given three months to live'.

Nov 22 2010 by Graham Young, Sunday Mercury

COMEDIAN Dave Ismay was told he had just three months to live – after bungling medics wrongly diagnosed he had cirrhosis of the liver.

Brummie Dave, a showbiz veteran of screen and stage, was so upset by the devastating diagnosis that he treated himself to a new Mercedes so he could see out his dying days in style.

The 64 year-old grandad, well-known to thousands of football fans as Aston Villa’s matchday announcer, also kicked booze after specialists told him he had to quit drinking or die.

But eight weeks after being delivered the news that he was at death’s door, researchers told Dave that the diagnosis was wrong. He had, in fact, an inherited blood condition called haemochromatosis.

The illness results in excess iron, and mimics the symptoms of alcohol-fuelled liver cirrhosis – but is manageable.

Fearing he had little time left, Dave had set about achieving as many of his lifetime dreams as he could.

He had first found fame as warm-up funnyman on hit 1970s show The Golden Shot with Bob Monkhouse, and became a friend of the presenter, who died seven years ago. So he decided to write a book about Bob.

“I drew up a bucket list – things to do before I kicked it,” said Dave. “One was to get my book about Bob Monkhouse written. Another was to appear in pantomime.

“When you’re told you’ve only got three months to live, it really focuses your mind. I even bought a new Merc because I thought: ‘If I’m going to go, it will be in a comfortable car!’”

Dave, who lives in Ashby-de-la-Zouch with his wife, make-up artist Dodie, managed to retain his sense of humour throughout his trauma.