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Louise Thomas
Editor
BBC presenter Lauren Laverne has announced she has been diagnosed with cancer.
The broadcaster, 46, shared the news on Instagram, urging people to “get checked out”, saying she is lucky to have “caught it early” and is “expected to make a full recovery”.
Alongside a picture of her smiling, the presenter of BBC Radio 6 Music’s breakfast show and Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs wrote: “Right then, some personal news… I recently had a cancer diagnosis. It was (thank God) caught early and unexpectedly during a screening test and I am expected to make a full recovery.
“I’m in hospital at the moment and wanted to take this moment to say thank you: firstly to the medical teams who have got me this far with incredible skill and kindness.
“To my family and friends who have been absolutely extraordinary every step of the way – I am so very grateful and love you so much. And of course thank you to my colleagues – including those at @itg_ltd, @bbc6music, @bbctheoneshow and #DesertIslandDiscs for their support – and for giving me the time off that I need to get better.”
She continued: “I also want to say that if you’re avoiding a test or putting off an appointment to get yourself checked out please, please do it today. Half of us will get cancer at some point, and if you do, finding out ASAP is everything.
“It’s usually my job to bring the good vibes on air but any you have to spare are very much welcome here. Sending loads of love to anyone in a similar boat, or who has made it back to shore. xxx.”
Ms Laverne took over the job of presenting Desert Island Discs, Radio 4’s flagship interview show, from Kirsty Young in 2018. Over the past six years, despite an onslaught of initial criticism, she has moved and entertained many listeners with her interviews with Ian Wright, Jamie Dornan, Esther Rantzen, Rob Delaney, Adrian Edmondson and Ruth Jones, to name a few.
Born Lauren Gofton, the Sunderland-born DJ moved into presenting following a career in music with her pop-rock band Kenickie. After guest slots hosting Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Have I Got News for You in the early 2000s, she became the first woman to host XFM’s flagship breakfast show in 2005 and has hosted the morning show on BBC Radio 6 Music since 2019.
Back in 2023, Lizzo thanked Ms Laverne on stage at London’s O2 Arena, after her radio play of her record led to its success. “Lauren Laverne played my record on Radio 6 and just like that I was flying to England every other weekend,” said Lizzo. “And you welcomed me with open arms.”
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Ms Laverne has been married to DJ Graeme Fisher since 2005 after the pair met and started dating in the early 2000s while working on the same TV show.
When asked about the most memorable kiss of her life, she told The Guardian: “The first with my husband, 20 years ago... He invited me to a gig and we both thought other people would come, but nobody did. We realised that it was Valentine’s Day and ended up getting together.”
Mr Fisher and Ms Laverne welcomed their first child, a son called Fergus, two years into their marriage. In 2010, they celebrated the arrival of their second son, Mack.
Alongside her numerous radio commitments, Ms Laverne has long served as one of the lead presenters for the BBC’s coverage of Glastonbury festival. In 2022, the host departed from Worthy Farm midway through the festival when her mother Celia died.
She wrote in a tribute post at the time: “Yesterday I lost my Mam, Celia. She was the kindest, most compassionate and most tenacious person I have ever met. Born in the middle of nine kids, she was a master peacemaker and persuader.
“She ran the only reggae club night in the NE and told me that being young in the Sixties felt like that line in ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ ‘to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free.’”
Speaking about her own experience of motherhood, Ms Laverne told Red magazine in 2019 how she is determined to make “the most of every milestone” with her sons Mack and Fergus.
“I’m in awe of my kids. I just think they’re fantastic,” she said. “I’m also mindful of how fast it all goes, so I’m drinking it in, making the most of every milestone.”
“Your forties are bananas,” Ms Laverne continued. “Everything is happening. You know the sound of an orchestra tuning up, where it’s just bonkers? That’s what your forties are like. It’s fascinating.
“You realise there are all sorts of different, brilliant ways to live your life. And hooray for that.”
