Entertainment
Dame Deborah James still can’t get over seeing herself in the news: ‘It’s bonkers and surreal’-Robert Oliver-Entertainment – Metro
She still can’t quite believe it!
Dame Deborah alongside brother Benjamin at Royal Ascot (Pictures: David M. Benett/Getty)
Dame Deborah James has said she still finds it ‘surreal’ to see herself on the front pages of newspapers while living with terminal cancer.
The podcaster, 40, reflected on the strange turn of events while reminiscing about going to Royal Ascot this week.
Dame Deborah’s ‘milestone’ trip to the famous event on Wednesday with her brother took place while she is receiving end-of-life care at home for bowel cancer.
News of her trip to the races then hit the front pages of the Daily Mirror, The Sun, the Daily Express and the Daily Mail.
‘I find this front-page thing bonkers!’ she exclaimed in a post on social media.
‘I mean I’m still, like, excited and always surprised in a good way by it all! But it’s also quite surreal I have to say!’
In photos posted to Instagram, the campaigner can be seen alongside her brother Benjamin, wearing a navy blue, white polka-dot dress.
‘Yesterday was really special as with a lot of effort and help I actually made it to [Ascot Racecourse] once again,’ she captioned the post.
‘I honestly have to pinch myself that I’ve been well enough each day to do something like this. Another favourite I’d had in mind and a fab milestone.’
Dame Deborah was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer in 2016 and started You, Me and the Big C, a podcast about the experiences of living with cancer.
She hosted the show alongside activist Lauren Mahon and BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Rachael Bland.
Rachael Bland hosted You, Me and the Big C alongside Deborah until 2018 (Picture: PA)
Bland died in 2018 after being diagnosed with breast cancer two years earlier, following which You, Me and the Big C hit #1 on the iTunes podcast chart.
Dame Deborah has continued to present the show in a valiant effort to break taboos surrounding cancer – and specifically bowel cancer.
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She recently appeared on Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies and tried to encourage people to talk about their bowel habits in order to save lives.
‘We all poo. Our favourite celebrities poo! Let’s kind of break down [and] smash those taboos because quite frankly, that is going to save lives. Let’s spread the word.’
Last month, Dame Deborah was awarded an OBE after her tireless efforts to raise millions for cancer charities.
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