Viewers have wept over a BBC special dedicated to Dame Deborah James tonight (Thursday). The intimate portrait of the cancer campaigner was praised for having the perfect mix of honesty and humour that the woman herself displayed.
The mum-of-two was initially diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in December 2016. Her family announced her death on June 28 via her BowelBabe Instagram account, which now has more than a million followers.
With honesty and humour, Dame Deborah documented her journey every step of the way on social media, dancing her way through chemotherapy, podcasting with the BBC’s You, Me and the Big C, and in her best-selling book F*** You Cancer.
Viewers took to Twitter during the programme to talk about what it meant to them. Many celebrated the bravery that Dame Deborah showed throughout her life with cancer, but particularly within those precious last weeks.
Andrew J Young @Andy24Young wrote: "Listening to Dame Deborah James talk about her cancer at a time where she knew how fatal it would impact her life, shows the amazing bravery she demonstrated. She has certainly inspired millions #DameDeborahJames."
For Amit Kalley @kalleycandc, it struck a personal chord, as she tweeted: "Deborah James is such an inspiration. In the same way my mum's legacy lives on in my world, Deborah's legacy will live on in everybody else's. #DameDeborahJames #DeborahJames #bbc"
Sarah Simmons @Sarahsimmons4 spoke for many when she said: "#DameDeborahJames is the most amazing lady. #TheLastDance is a documentary you watch with a huge lump in your throat and with lots of tears, but by golly what an utterly fabulous woman."
And for Allison Jane Smith @AllisonJaneSmi2, it was all a lot to deal with: "This has totally changed my mood. So incredibly sad. Just 40 years old. #damedeborahjames #thelastdance #bbc1 I can’t recall not seeing her smiling, even tho she was in such obvious pain. What an inspirational, selfless woman Dame Deborah James was."
In May 2022 Dame Deborah revealed that she was moving to end-of-life care at her parents' Surrey home. In the final few weeks of her life, she raised more than £6 million through the launch of her Bowelbabe Fund, and Prince William popped by to present her with her damehood in the back garden.
Friends and supporters came together to pay their respects in the BBC tribute, including Lorraine Kelly, Adele Roberts, Gaby Roslin and George Alagiah.
Dame Deborah James: The Last Dance is available to watch on BBC iPlayer
