Clarke announced the news just after 7am with co-host Max Burford, after telling listeners that “unfortunately, we’re about to go through a bit of a forced change on the show”.

Clarke said there was no easy way to explain why so she would just “blurt it out”.

“A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with bloody breast cancer,” she said.

“And in all honesty, it’s been a pretty yucky time for me and the family.

Clarke fought back tears, saying: “I didn’t think I’d be emotional. I thought I’d done all my crying.

“Now, the awesome news is that we’ve got this really, really early and the cool thing is this is the type of cancer that’s fed by hormones – I know, not espresso Martinis, whew!

“So with everything going right we’re really hoping it’s unlikely I’m going to need chemo, but radiotherapy… that’s still a possibility.

“However, unfortunately, the way that it unfolded was that I thought it was very small and manageable. But they found quite a lot of small little cancers. And so that means that I’ll be going in for some pretty big surgery later this week and I’ll have to take some time off to recover, as you can imagine.

“But the long and the short of it means that I am going to have a full mastectomy. Which, if you’re playing at home, that means they’re taking one of my boobs. And if I’m truly honest, that bit’s probably been much more confronting than I ever thought it will be.”

An emotional Clarke said she had never “put my boobs on display” and considered them “functional” and just a part of her.

“I’ve really battled with myself between being angry at myself for almost feeling vain about losing a part of me. But when I sit back and try to reason with it, I’m about to lose a part of me that society has forever told me actually makes me a woman,” the longtime radio host and former InDaily columnist said.

“And it’s absolutely necessary. And the other biggest part of my brain knows that this is really what needs to happen for me to be good. So, you know, I think that’s the bit … sorry, as you can imagine, it’s been so up and down …

“I’ve got some beautiful friends that have been able to give me advice. But you know, at two o’clock in the morning, you do feel pretty lonely even when I’m lying next to my husband, and wondering if he’s gonna still find me … you know…” with Clarke unable to continue.

A teary Clarke then invited listeners to call in, saying: “That’s enough about me, play a song or something.”