Lauren Laverne given ‘all clear’ following cancer diagnosis
Broadcaster Lauren Laverne says she is “all okay” after undergoing cancer treatment, adding that the experience taught her “a lot about what’s really important in life”.
The 46-year-old BBC presenter said on Instagram on Sunday that she would return to work on The One Show on Tuesday “after taking some time off to recover”.
She said she now feels “more than ever that the little things in life — the connections and care we make for each other — are really the big things.”
Laverne has also presented BBC Radio 6 Music’s Breakfast Show, Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, revealed her diagnosis In August, she said at the time that her cancer had been detected early and she “expected to make a full recovery.”
She went on to thank the “wonderful medical team for taking such wonderful care of me” and the “thousands of people who have sent me such beautiful and inspiring messages” in her Sunday post.
“Most of all (thank you) to my family: my two amazing children and especially my husband Graeme, who has been brilliant throughout,” she said.
“It was a difficult time, but it taught me a lot about what’s really important.
“I can’t say that I suddenly regretted not hiking the Inca Trail, it’s more that I now see more beauty in mundane things than I ever imagined.”
Her post also included a photo of herself wearing a jumper which read: “Life is beautiful”.
She said her cancer was discovered “accidentally” during a screening test in August and urged anyone “avoiding testing or postponing their appointment” to get tested.
Laverne began replacing Kirsty Young on Desert Island Discs in 2018 and later became the permanent host.
For the role, she interviewed Cillian Murphy, Steven Spielberg, Rebel Wilson, Delia Smith, Kate Moss and John Legend, among others.
She has presented BBC Two’s The Culture Show and Channel 4’s 10 O’Clock Live, and was the singer-guitarist for alternative rock band Kenickie in the 1990s.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We are delighted to welcome Lauren back to the studio this month for The One Show and Desert Island Discs, with new episodes set to air on Radio 4 from December 1 and we look forward to Lauren’s return BBC Radio 6 Music for the New Year.”
