David Campbell will be hosting Carols by Candlelight for the 12th year in a row, but this year he’ll do it with someone special on his mind.

Speaking of his upcoming gig, he made a special mention of his best friend, Magda Szubanski, who is currently battling cancer.

“Magda is really receiving everyone’s goodwill,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“I think that’s the thing that’s been keeping her going.

“Certainly, she’s been getting it from our family, but also from the nation.”

Szubanski is close with Campbell and his wife, Lisa Hewitt.

She’s also godmother to their 10-year-old daughter, Betty.

Campbell shared that he’s taken an honest approach with the situation when it comes to his children.

Szubanski is close friends with the Campbells. Picture: Instagram.
“Betty’s nearly 11. I think that if she was much younger, it’d be much harder,” he shared.

“But what we just said was what Magda told everybody: She’s not well, but she is surrounded by the most incredible doctors, particularly in Melbourne.”

The Campbells also shared an update on Magda last month.

“She talked about the fact that having that outpouring of emotion, and the support that she’s felt, has been instrumental in her getting through everything,” Lisa told Stellar’s podcast Something to Talk About.

“I can’t speak for her own personal health, but she’s an incredible person, and we are so fortunate to have her in our lives,” she continued.

“She laughs at herself. And she made us laugh at the cancer with her,” Campbell added.

Lisa and David Campbell have provided updates on Magda’s health. Picture: supplied/David Hooley
“And they say laughter is the best medicine. It’s kind of true. It does make people feel better.”

Szubanski, who is best known for her role as Sharon Strzelecki in Kath & Kim, opened up about her diagnosis in May of this year.

She took to Instagram to announce the bad news, but reassured her fans that she was surrounded by support.

“I won’t sugar-coat it: it’s rough,” she wrote.

“But I’m hopeful. I’m being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant, and I’ve never felt more held by the people around me.”

“I won’t sugar-coat it: it’s rough,” Magda said of her treatment. Picture: Instagram.
Campbell will also be performing for his father, Jimmy Barnes, who has been warned by his family to take some downtime after a long year of touring.

Barnes played shows as recently as this month for his tour, The Working Class Man 40th Anniversary Tour.

While he’s hosting Carols alongside Sarah Abo, Campbell will also be performing.

“I am going to sing this year,” he said.

“We’re still locking down what that’s going to be, but it’s really something very different for me.

“I’ve never done anything like this on stage before, so we’ll have to wait and see.”