Ricky Gervais' long-term partner Jane Fallon has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The beloved author received the diagnosis despite showing no symptoms in an emotional online post. She wrote: "So... I thought I should post something as I've had a few people notice I've been a bit quiet on here lately. About a month ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer - very early stage, thankfully, & the prognosis is excellent.

"I had a routine mammogram a week before Christmas. I had no symptoms, but the brilliant radiographer spotted something iffy & sent me for further tests & eventually a biopsy. Since then, I've had more mammograms, more biopsies and an MRI so they can pinpoint the problem area precisely.

"It's been a lot, I'm not going to lie. But my surgery is scheduled for the week after next, and I just want to get it over with now. I'm getting incredible care, and all will be fine, but I'm not engaging with much beyond audiobooks & jigsaws tbh. Dr Eric is on duty. Nurse Pickle is wondering when lunch is."

Author Jane has been with Ricky since 1982. Aside from her hugely successful literary career, she has also worked as a TV producer on shows such as EastEnders, Teachers, and This Life, to name a few. Speaking about their early careers on a recent podcast, she said: "I was always saying, 'I'm going to get us out of this. I'm going to work my way out of this'.

"I felt as though I was on the rung of the ladder I wanted to be on. I knew that once I got a proper road into TV, that would be something I loved and could make a career around. Ricky didn't really know what he wanted to do at that point; he was just pleased for me because I was helping us get out of the ditch we were in.

"And then when he did what he did, there was no jealousy. My career was helpful because he wasn't entering this alien, glamorous world - I knew that TV was a hard slog." Ricky and Jane have been together for decades, but the couple have never taken the plunge to tie the knot - something they've been very open about.

He previously told the press about their relationship: "We are married for all intents and purposes, everything's shared, and actually, our fake marriage has lasted longer than a real one. But there's no point in us having an actual cerermony before the eyes of God because there is no God."

The couple have also spoken about their decision not to have children, bluntly revealing that they "didn't fancy dedicating 16 years of [their] lives... and there are too many children, of course." Last month, Jane appeared on the Second Act podcast, where she revealed she has no regrets about being childfree.

She told listeners: "When I was little, you know the cliche of a little girl as they imagine their wedding day and their wedding dress... it was none of that ever. It was always about work and my life. I was never into that romance stuff. As I got older, I just realised [becoming a parent] wasn't for me.

"I'm a real catastrophist... I assume the worst. When I watch my next sister up and her two kids, she's so brilliant. She's just got that balance right of letting them be independent but not being reckless. I would stifle the life out of my kids. I can't even let my cat out.

"I think your job as a parent is to create independent, go-be-free [children]. But it's really hard. I just thought I'll be a better auntie - and auntie to my friends' kids - than I will be a mother. I just think I'd be very good at it because I thought I'd be too anxious."