A friend of Dame Deborah James has opened up about his poignant final conversation with her ahead of the first anniversary of her death.
Deborah, who hosted the You, Me and the Big C podcast on BBC Radio 5 Live, dedicated the final years of year life to raising awareness of bowel cancer after being diagnosed with an incurable form of the disease in 2016, helping to raise over £11 million for Cancer Research UK through her Bowelbabe Fund. The mum-of-two sadly died in June last year, aged 40.
5 Live presenter Tony Livesey recalled the last time he spoke to Deborah, after she asked him to conduct what would be her final interview over the phone. Tony shared the memory alongside You, Me and the Big C co-host Lauren Mahon and friend Emma Campbell, The Mirror reports.
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Speaking to the Radio Times, Tony admitted that his last conversation with Deborah was one of the most honest the two had shared, as she tearfully confessed to him for the first time that she was scared of dying. "Ending that call was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do," he said.
"I couldn't put the phone down as I knew it would be the last time I would speak to her. We were like young kids on a date – 'you put it down,' 'no you put it down.' In the end she put the phone down. And that was the last time I ever spoke to her."
Lauren also revealed that Deborah "told her off" for her response to Rachael Bland's death, their friend and fellow You, Me and the Big C host who sadly died of breast cancer in 2018. "When Rachael died, I actually said to Deb the next day, 'I'm the one who doesn’t have a husband and kids. Why her? Why you?'" she recalled.
"And she told me off very severely and said, 'Lauren, you're the hope – I'm glad you're not in our situation.' That was typical of her."
In a statement posted by Deborah's family at the time of her death, the star's incredible legacy was praised. "Deborah, who many of you will know as Bowelbabe, was an inspiration and we are incredibly proud of her and her work and commitment to charitable campaigning, fundraising and her endless efforts to raise awareness of cancer that touched so many lives," they said.
"Deborah shared her experience with the world to raise awareness, break down barriers, challenge taboos and change the conversation around cancer. Even in her most challenging moments, her determination to raise money and awareness was inspiring."
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