Lauren Laverne returning to work after cancer diagnosis

November 18, 2024
Lauren Laverne returning to work after cancer diagnosis

BBC presenter Lauren Laverne is set to return to work at the corporation this month following a cancer diagnosis.

Laverne will begin recording episodes of BBC One's 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 spokesperson 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 15 August, 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. It came out on 11 August.

Since then, extended and classical editions of the interview programme have been airing on BBC Radio 4.

Laverne last presented The One Show in August.

A new episode of Desert Island Discs will come out on Sunday 1 December 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.

Details of the episodes are set to be announced soon.

Laverne announced on 21 August that she had received 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.

Source: Press Association