A Brighton man who recently appeared on Channel 4’s First Dates Beach Club has spoken openly about a major health scare earlier this year, launching a campaign encouraging people not to ignore warning signs and to seek medical advice.
Michael John Lewis, known online as @mjlmidlifeswitch, underwent thyroid surgery in 2025 following a cancer scare. Just three weeks after the operation, he travelled to Spain to take part in the brand-new series of First Dates Beach Club, which aired on 16 December.
Michael said appearing on the programme was about more than finding a potential match — it was a way of showing resilience after what he described as a mentally challenging year.
Alongside his television appearance, he has launched the “Don’t ignore the signs. Get checked. Stay strong” campaign, aimed at raising awareness around health, early checks and the mental barriers that often stop people from visiting their GP.
Research suggests a significant number of people in the UK delay seeing a doctor, with around a quarter feeling anxious about appointments and up to two-thirds postponing check-ups due to fear or embarrassment. Michael says phrases such as “not wanting to waste the doctor’s time” or “being too busy” are often rooted in fear.
“One of the biggest battles is mental,” he said. “Fear, misinformation and anxiety stop people from getting checked, when most of the time it turns out to be nothing serious.”
One week after surgery, Michael teamed up with photographer Stephen Paul McKenna to take a series of striking photographs on the streets of Brighton, documenting his recovery and helping to spark conversations about health and prevention.
Michael has previously created his own Stand Up To Cancer video, featuring Hollywood actor Jared Leto, singer Abi Flynn and members of the public. He says this experience helped fuel his passion for sharing personal stories to encourage others to reflect on their own health.
His wider project, “MJL Mid Life Switch,” focuses on making small lifestyle changes — from reducing stress to rethinking daily routines — to improve wellbeing and outlook on life.
Michael said: “Even small changes like drinking less coffee, smiling more, taking a different route to work or just saying good morning to someone can completely change the energy of your day and open new opportunities.”
A vlog documenting Michael’s surgery and a recorded conversation between Michael and Stephen are available on his YouTube channel, where he continues to share his journey and message around positive change and self-care.
You can follow Michael on Instagram at @mjlmidlifeswitch.
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