You, Me and The Big C: Presenters ready to 'hang up headphones'

The presenters of the BBC podcast, You, Me and The Big C, Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland, have said they are ready to “hang up headphones” and stand down from hosting the show.

You, Me and The Big C first launched in 2018 and was hosted by Mahon, Rachel Bland and Dame Deborah James

Bland died six months after the launch of the podcast following a battle with primary triple-negative breast cancer.

Dame Deborah passed away in 2022 after her battle with bowel cancer.

The intimate podcast takes a look into cancer and discusses matters such as hair loss, finances, speaking to family and friends, and learning to cope with living with the diagnosis.

After Bland’s passing, her husband Steve Bland took her place in the podcast.

Mohan, who is now five years clear of cancer, spoke to BBC North West Tonight: “I have struggled over the last year getting back in that studio without their seats being filled.

‘Not being able to turn around to those girls… it does feel surreal and really sad.’

‘Probably more poignant and relevant to get people that are going through it now’

Discussing the podcast and the impact cancer has on people’s lives, Steve said, “We’ve always tried to make it not just a closed shop, it’s something there for everyone.

“We had one lady a while back sending a sheet from her medical team in the hospital, and they prescribed it for her (the podcast),” he added.

Mahon said that both she and Steve had “many chats” and they no longer feel it’s best to continue and that it’s time to “hang up the headphones”.

She added: “Cancer moves on, people are getting diagnosed every day – that’s not going to change. The world of cancer changes. So I think it would be more appropriate and probably more poignant and relevant to get people that are going through it now.”

Speaking to BBC Breakfast he said: “We’d like the podcast to carry on because it’s a really important thing for so many people.

“It just takes a toll, and it’s heavy, and it’s hard to kind of keep talking about this stuff – particularly when we’ve had to deal with obviously Rachel and Deborah over the last few years.

“There aren’t many people doing podcasts where two people have died from the subject matter. It’s a tough thing to keep talking about.”

The pair announced they will record an episode with a live audience later this month.

Dame Deborah James’s campaign success, from a royal visit to bestselling book

Dame Deborah actively inspired people across the world with her candid stories about dealing with bowel cancer in the podcast.

Last year, the campaigner also raised £1.6m within 24 hours for research into the disease.

Her book How to Live When You Could Be Dead also became a bestseller in 2022, with over 40,000 copies sold.

It explored how to have a positive mindset despite facing life’s biggest challenges.

In May 2022, Ms James met Prince William as he personally visited her family home in Surrey to grant her damehood.

The bowel cancer campaigner said it was “quite surreal” to have Prince William visit her home and she was “utterly honoured” to have him join her family for afternoon tea and champagne.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have previously shown their support for Ms James and said they had donated to her fund.

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