Lorraine Kelly Planning Tattoo Tribute To Dame Deborah James

Lorraine Kelly and other friends of Dame Deborah James are planning to get matching tattoos to honour the late cancer campaigner and podcast host.

Deborah, known to her one million online followers as Bowelbabe, died last month from bowel cancer at the age of 40.

She had been a regular guest on Lorraine’s ITV show, and as the presenter discussed her friend’s funeral – which took place on Wednesday – she revealed she will be getting a permanent tribute.

“There was a whole bunch of us that said we’re going to get tattoos with Rebellious Hope on them,” Lorraine said on Thursday, referring to a phrase that became synonymous with Dame Deborah.

“I think I agreed to that! We’re just deciding where they’re going to be.”

She added: “We might have to film that, I think that’s going to happen.”

Deborah had been a regular guest on Lorraine's ITV show, seen here in 2018
Deborah had been a regular guest on Lorraine’s ITV show, seen here in 2018

Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

During the same segment on her show, Lorraine discussed Deborah’s funeral, which she attended.

“There were a lot of tears and there really was genuinely a lot of laughs too, so it was great,” Lorraine said.

“She planned it all and it was perfection, as you would expect.”

She continued: “I was very honoured to be there with some of our team. It was a beautiful beautiful send-off, it was so lovely and it was sad but it was also a celebration of a wonderful wonderful woman.”

Lorraine discussed attending Dame Deborah's funeral on her show on Thursday
Lorraine discussed attending Dame Deborah’s funeral on her show on Thursday

Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Dame Deborah’s friends and family gathered to celebrate her life during an intimate service at St Mary’s Church in Barnes, west London.

Her coffin arrived in a vintage Rolls-Royce hearse with more than a dozen members of her family walking in procession behind, and it was adorned with the rose that was named after her.

Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV.

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You, Me And The Big C Podcast Host Deborah James Tells Fans She Doesn’t Know ‘How Long I’ve Got Left’

Podcaster Deborah James says she doesn’t know “how long I’ve got left” after being moved to hospice at home care to treat her terminal bowel cancer.

The presenter of the BBC podcast You, Me And The Big C said the last six months have been “heartbreaking” to go through, but that she has been surrounded by “so much love” and has “no regrets”.

Deborah was diagnosed with the condition in 2016 and since then has kept her nearly 300,000 Instagram followers up to date with her treatments, with candid posts about her progress and diagnosis.

On December 14 2021, she marked five years since her diagnosis, writing on Instagram: “I’m fully aware I shouldn’t be alive to write this today.”

But in a new post on Monday, she said: “The message I never wanted to write. We have tried everything, but my body simply isn’t playing ball.

“My active care has stopped and I am now moved to hospice at home care, with my incredible family all around me and the focus is on making sure I’m not in pain and spending time with them.

“Nobody knows how long I’ve got left but I’m not able to walk, I’m sleeping most of the days, and most things I took for granted are pipe dreams.”

She added that she had left “no stone unturned” in search of treatment, but that even a “magic new breakthrough” would not make a difference.

The former deputy headteacher announced in her post that she is setting up the Bowelbabe Fund, and shared links to charities including Cancer Research UK, Bowel Cancer UK and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Deborah James
Deborah James

Ken McKayKen McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

She wrote: “All I ask, if you ever read a column, followed my Instagram, listened to the podcast or saw me dressed as a poo for no reason, please buy me a drink to see me out this world, by donating the cost to @bowelbabefund which will enable us to raise funds for further lifesaving research into cancer. To give more Deborah’s more time!”.

She added: “Right now for me it’s all about taking it a day at a time, step by step and being grateful for another sunrise.

“My whole family are around me and we will dance through this together, sunbathing and laughing (I’ll cry!!) at every possible moment!

“You are all incredible, thank you for playing your part in my journey.

“No regrets. Enjoy life x Deborah.”

The fund name echoes her social media handle, Bowelbabe, and by early morning on May 10 it had reached nearly £700,000.

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