Broadcast presenter Gay Byrne has informed listeners of his RTÉ radio show that he may be facing a cancer diagnosis.

Wrapping up the show this afternoon he told his audience that he will not be on air next week after doctors discovered what they believe to be prostate cancer.

The 82-year-old is now facing tests to determine whether the disease has spread.

“We are going into hospital because they think they may have discovered a bit of cancer in the prostate and they are afraid it might have moved up into the small of the back so I am into hospital for all sorts of tests,” he said.

The veteran broadcaster said he has been lucky to have enjoyed “the most wonderful, fantastic, robust, good health all my broadcasting life” and said there are many people out there who are “much worse off.”

Byrne hosted the Late Late Show for 37 years from 1962 to 1999.

Since his retirement he has hosted a range of shows including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, The Meaning of Life and For One Night Only.

He currently hosts a two-hour chat show on RTÉ Lyric FM.