Dai Henwood cancels 'Dai Hard' tour as cancer spreads

Comedian Dafydd Morgan 'Dai' Henwood has cancelled the remaining shows of his "Dai Hard" comedy tour as he continues treatment for incurable bowel cancer, which has spread to other organs too. He went public in 2023 after being diagnosed with metastatic bowel cancer in 202.

He announced the cancellation follows recent changes in treatment and new challenges, with ticket holders to be refunded, as announced by Notorious Management on Instagram.

Dai Henwood, known for his work on shows like 7 Days, said he remains committed to making Kiwis laugh and is focusing on getting better. A three-part documentary series, "Live and Let Dai," documenting Henwood’s journey with cancer, was released in September 2024.


Notorious Management shared the “gutting news” of the tour cancellation in a joint Instagram post with Henwood expressing his disappointment, saying he was “gutted” to be cancelling the tour dates.

“We really thought things were going to be okay but cancer sucks," he said.

Fellow comedians have expressed their support for Henwood. Liv McKenzie commented “Love you Dai!”

Henwood had in late February 2025, postponed two shows in Invercargill and New Plymouth due to “tumour activity” in his lungs. These shows were initially rescheduled for June but will no longer take place.

Henwood had previously shared an update on his medical status, noting he’d had a “beautiful summer” off cancer treatment.

“But as you can tell by my coughing, my breathing has deteriorated really quickly over the last two weeks,” he said. “I’ve obviously got some tumour activity going on in my lungs, so I am going into chemotherapy a bit earlier than expected on Wednesday. Fingers crossed that’s going to knock things back and I’ll be able to talk and do what I love doing, which is comedy - and breathing of course.”

Henwood in March 2025 posted on Instagram that he was “doing chemo at the moment” and requested recommendations for long-sleeved t-shirts and wide-brimmed hats due to photosensitivity caused by his medication.


The documentary follows Henwood as he undergoes treatment for his incurable cancer diagnosis.

Henwood likens his chemotherapy regime to "keeping a classic car on the road" until further treatments emerge. "Optimism won't cure me, but pessimism will kill me," he says.

Henwood has hosted shows including Dancing with the Stars, 7 Days, Family Feud and Lego Masters.

“Imagine the worst hangover you've ever had, make that hangover last for four to five days, and you don't even have that small period of good times.”