Richard Madeley appeared to be choked up as he spoke directly to Deborah James who was watching Good Morning Britain on Monday (May 16). The presenter and campaigner had tuned in to the show to watch her You, Me and the Big C podcast co-host Lauren Mahon.
Lauren was on the ITV news programme to chat to Richard and co-host Susanna Reid about Deborah, who in the last week has raised an incredible £6m for Cancer Research UK through her Bowelbabe fund on Just Giving but also been made a Dame for her incredible efforts, receiving the honour at home from Prince William on Friday (May 13).
Deborah, known online as Bowel Babe, was honoured for her “tireless campaigning” to raise awareness of bowel cancer. It comes after the 40-year-old disclosed last Monday (May 9) that she had moved to hospice-at-home care to treat the terminal disease after being diagnosed in 2016.
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"It is tough, I'm heartbroken. We all are," Lauren told Richard and Susanna as she discussed Deborah's Damehood, the visit from Prince William and the impact the podcast, You, Me and the Big C, has had. "But... what this week has done. has just given us some pure joy to cling on to and only Deb could do that, in the darkest of times shine such a big light." She added: "We are all so proud of what she's achieved this week and what she's achieved in the last five years."
Lauren went on to explain how Deborah is so happy that "a lot money will be going into special projects she wanted funding for" and that it is "more than she's ever dreamed." Before the end of the interview, the GMB hosts asked Lauren to share a message to her friend directly as she'd had communication from her that she was watching the show.
Echoing what Lauren said, Richard appeared to have tears in his eyes and his voice slightly wobbles as he said: "We do love you, Deborah. Even those who have never met you. We think you're wonderful."
Taking to Instagram on Monday morning, Dame Deborah shared a selfie Lauren had took in the GMB studio. She penned alongside it: "Thank you @iamlaurenmahon who just smashed it out the park on @gm this morning and (almost!) got the tears going." She added: "Love you."
Dame Deborah is receiving hospice care at her parents' home in Woking, Surrey. In her last update on Instagram over the weekend she shared a front page of a newspaper featuring her with her Damehood pinned to her dress as she sat alongside Prince William.
"I believe I may have had the most surreal, mind blowing, humbling 5 days of my life. I cannot thank you for your generosity at launching the @bowelbabefund which now stands at £5.7 million, and to the @dukeandduchessofcambridge for going above and beyond to make a very special memory happen yesterday," she wrote.
"Can’t quite believe im actually a Dame! My family are being amazing and as emotional as it all is, we are finding so much to smile about in the sadness. I may be getting weaker and more tired each tired having run off pure adrenaline, but my word, I always said I wanted to slide in sideways when my time is up, with a massive smile, no regrets and a big glass of champagne! Still my intention!!!"
