BBC presenter Lauren Laverne has given a major update on her cancer battle. It comes days after it was announced that Laverne is set to return to working at the corporation this month following her cancer diagnosis.
Laverne, 46, will begin recording episodes of The One Show and BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in November after being absent from the studios for around three months. A BBC spokeswoman said: “We’re delighted to welcome Lauren back to the studio this month for The One Show and Desert Island Discs, with new episodes airing on Radio 4 from 1 December, and we look forward to welcoming Lauren back to BBC Radio 6 Music in the new year.”
Laverne last presented her 6 Music show on August 15, and Nick Grimshaw, Nemone Metaxas, and Deb Grant are among the presenters who have been sitting in since then. The last new episode of Desert Island Discs was with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, and came out on August 11, and since then extended and classical editions of the interview programme have been airing on Radio 4.
That same month, she last presented The One Show. A new episode of Desert Island Discs will come out on December 1, and will be a pre-recorded interview with comedian Mark Steel that is believed to have been done by Laverne before she went on leave.
She will return to record more episodes as well as Christmas editions of the series over the next few weeks, which are set to be next announced soon. Laverne announced on August 21, that she has a “cancer diagnosis”, and stressed that it was caught “early and unexpectedly during a screening test”.
“I am expected to make a full recovery,” she added. “To my family and friends who have been absolutely extraordinary every step of the way – I am so very grateful and love you so much.
“And of course thank you to my colleagues.”
She cited staff at 6 Music, The One Show, Desert Island Discs and Independent Talent Group “for their support – and for giving me the time off that I need to get better”.
Laverne has not specified what cancer she has.
Taking to Instgram this weekend, Lauren broke great news for her fans, saying: “Well hello there! Just a quick update from me to say that after taking some time off to get better I’ve had the all clear and will be back to work on your TV this Tuesday with the wonderful @bbctheoneshow team. I’ve also been working on some new #DesertIslandDiscs episodes (which will air soon @BBCRadio4 @BBCSounds) and am looking forward to returning to @BBC6Music in the New Year.
“I want to say a huge thank you to the brilliant medical teams who took such great care of me, to the thousands of people who sent me such beautiful and encouraging messages, the friends and acquaintances who took the time to support me after going through cancer themselves – and most of all to my family: my two astounding kids and especially my husband Graeme, who was absolutely extraordinary throughout.
“It’s been a difficult time but one that has taught me so much about what really matters. I can’t say I suddenly regretted never having hiked the Inca Trail, more that I now see more beauty in ordinary things than I could have imagined, and feel more than ever that the small things in life – the connections we make and care we take with each other – are the big things really. I have so much to be grateful for and excited about, and that is thanks to everyone mentioned above. Loads of love to anyone going through cancer treatment or supporting a loved one through it. See you soon and thanks again for the well wishes. Xx”