BBC star’s last, heart-wrenching podcast released
TRAGIC broadcaster Rachael Bland’s final recording has been released — with the BBC Radio 5 Live presenter talking frankly about being robbed of her future and struggling not to weep over her young son.
The brave mum-of-one died last week aged just 40 after suffering from breast cancer, which she documented in podcast You, Me and the Big C.
Her final, poignant podcast — recorded before her death on September 5 with friends, co-hosts and fellow cancer sufferers Deborah James and Lauren Mahon — features candid conversation about the agony of missing her son Freddie growing up and not getting to grow old with husband Steve.
She said: ‘I know I’m probably not going to be living for much longer, but I don’t think about it too deeply because I wouldn’t be able to look at Freddie without weeping all over him.
‘I want to spend valuable time with him — whatever time I have left — I want it to be good time.’
Rachael shared how she prepared material to leave behind for her young son, including a memoir of stories and advice, as well as planning years of birthday gifts for him to receive as he grows up.
She also described tearfully looking into her husband Steve’s eyes and losing the prospect of a future with him.
‘When Steve and I met we would have these sweet conversations about when we grow old,’ she said.
‘We’re going to sit there and we will be 70 years old, sat on a bench by the coast eating our fish and chips.
‘That was something that was always there to look forward. But the new normal kind of took that away.
‘You weren’t able to have those conversations and those innocent thoughts.
‘If I was crying all the time, it would make it harder for him and we wouldn’t be having a nice time.
‘But that’s not to say there aren’t nights where we kind of look each other in the eye and have a good old cry about it.’
Signing off from the final podcast, Bland says they will be back next week.
But in an addendum to the recording, her friend Mahon says: ‘Unfortunately, as you are all aware, Rachael will not be back next week. Her wish was for the podcast for continue. We will grant her that wish.’
Author: Anna Thomson
