Dame Deborah James' co-host has remembered her late friend - admitting she still talks to her.
Lauren Mahon - who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31 in 2016 - hosted the You, Me and the Big C podcast alongside her two friends, Deborah and Rachael Bland. Both have since sadly passed away, Deborah last month, and Rachael back in 2018.
The podcast focused on living with cancer and the experiences each of them faced, with it winning a special award over the weekend at the British Podcast Awards, and Lauren has admitted it has been tough without her friends by her side.
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain today, Lauren shared: "It's really weird, because it's almost like I can compartmentalise so I can come and talk to you guys about the podcast and my wonderful wonderful friend, and it's work.
"I think it's more off screen when I'm with friends and people ask about the funeral and I'm like I don't want to talk about it. Grief is unique - and it's very unique to grieve someone so public. When you grieve someone, you can usually go off into a hole somewhere."
Lauren has vowed to beat cancer for her late friends as Deborah always described her as the "hope".
She added: "Deborah's always like, you're the hope, you're the hope, so I really want to continue that for her and for Rachael.
"It's really strange because last time I was here, she was watching, so it's very strange not being able to turn to her and say 'oh my gosh this is what happened,' or 'you'll never guess what,' but I still tell her in my mind."
Lauren accepted the award on Saturday, saying: "I don't think there are many podcasts that you could say would be standing up here whose co-hosts are not with them because they have died of the subject matter, but that is why we do what we do.
"We knew it was a risk when we started it and it is something that we will continue to champion."
In her final podcast, Deborah said: "Check your poo. Come on. I can't leave on any other word apart from check your poo." She sadly passed away a month later, after receiving end of life care at home.
