Lorraine Kelly has disclosed the final words said by Dame Deborah James to her before her death.
The TV host, 63, was close to the late journalist and charity advocate, who died last year at the age of 40 following a six-year struggle with colon cancer.
As the creator and face of the Bowelbabe cancer research fund, Dame Deborah also collaborated with Lorraine to establish the No Butts campaign, which increased awareness of the disease during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in April.
Lorraine has now disclosed their final discussion, with Dame Deborah’s final comments a fitting acknowledgement of her desire to assist others.
‘[She was all about] making people not being silly about going to the loo [and checking their stools],’ she said when appearing on Loose Women on Tuesday.
‘That was the last thing she said to me – “Check your poo” – that was it,’ she added.
‘She was so strong and so positive and that was the last thing she said. She was so young.’
Lorraine spoke on the loss of her friend while also discussing her decision to participate in the now three-year-long campaign for the first time since Dame Deborah’s death.
‘I’ve been finding it really difficult to talk about her in the past tense, it feels weird and strange,’ she shared.
‘It feels like she is still with us.
‘Obviously she was right at the heart of it and this is the first one without her, but it feels like she is here.’
Dame Deborah collected more than £6 million for Cancer Research UK in her final weeks by chronicling her cancer experience on Instagram and through her podcast, You, Me, and the Big C.
Heather, her daughter’s mother, has gone on Lorraine numerous times since her death to assist keep her daughter’s objective at the forefront of people’s minds.
Last week, The Prince of Wales praised Lorraine for the ongoing effort, sending in a video to thank the team for raising awareness.
‘As you know, I got to meet Dame Deborah, so I know how important this was to her – 46,000 people in the UK each year get diagnosed with bowel cancer and yet many of us don’t know the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, particularly in us men,’ he said.
‘So, if you’re watching this, please take a second to listen and learn about the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.’
He added doing so could save lives.
Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV.