Denise Scott, star of Mother and Son reboot, diagnosed with cancer

Comedian and actor Denise Scott has revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer while working on the ABC’s Mother and Son reboot.

The Winners & Losers star was told she had a “particularly aggressive” form of cancer (HER2-positive) about six months ago – the day before she began her role as Maggie Beare in the reimagining of the classic sitcom.

Denise Scott continued filming Mother and Son despite her cancer diagnosis.

However, she continued filming 12-hour days while undergoing chemotherapy and blood tests.

“This production meant a lot to me,” Scott, 68, told The Australian Women’s Weekly. “But the doctors were making it clear: ‘you have to start chemotherapy within days.’ I don’t know who first suggested I try to do both, which in hindsight was insane. I think it was me. I was thinking, I don’t want to shut this whole production down, and I was also thinking, I want to live.”

For about six months, Scott endured fatigue and physical pain while on set. In an attempt to lessen the strain she was under, the production company provided a body double who stood in for her whenever the cameras weren’t rolling. Scott said she would not have been able to do it without her.

She was also assigned a man named Mark who took care of Scott during production – physically and, to a certain extent, emotionally.

“He picked me up every morning, took me home every night, and he would shadow me – I mean shadow me. He had an umbrella, a water bottle and a chair. When I had to go to the toilet, he would follow and stand at a tactful distance,” Scott said.

When she thought she could not go on, Scott said she “drew on the strength” of those who had endured similar battles before her, including her father and best friend, Lynda Gibson (The Castle), who died in 2004 from ovarian cancer.

Although it is not yet complete, Scott’s treatment has so far gone to plan, and she has “a lot of hope”. In the interview with the magazine, she thanked her partner of 43 years, John Lane, who has supported her throughout, including during their relocation from Melbourne to Sydney while she filmed and underwent treatment.

“I’ve realised that my work has been who I am,” she told Women’s Weekly. ”Work makes me feel normal. It’s the reason I get out of bed. And that’s made me think that perhaps I’ve been ignoring other parts of life for quite a long time now. So, I want to rectify that a little. I want to see more of my grandson. I want to do some gardening. I want to travel. I want to keep doing comedy and writing too, of course. But first, I want to get well.”

Matt Okine (left) and Denise Scott (right) will star in the Mother and Son reboot for the ABC.Credit: ABC

Scott’s role in Mother and Son will be her first television lead. Throughout her career, she has featured in many popular television shows, including The Project, Would I Lie to You?, Have You Been Paying Attention, All Star Family Feud and Hughesy, We Have a Problem. She is also renowned for her stand-up comedy show, Disappointments, and Still Here, which she performed alongside Judith Lucy.

In July, she was awarded an Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours List for her “significant service to the arts as a comedian and actress”.

She will star in Mother and Son – which originally aired in 1984 with Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald – alongside comedian and radio host Matt Okine.

“To be clear, I’m the Mother. Matt is the Son. I’m excited. Terrified. Honoured. Humbled,” Scott wrote on Instagram following the announcement.

Mother and Son will premiere on August 23 on ABC TV and ABC iview.

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