Prince William backs Dame Deborah James’ charity single
The Prince of Wales has backed a charity single released today to mark one year since the death of cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James.
The broadcaster and former headteacher, known as Bowel Babe, died at the age of 40 in June 2022, five years after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer when she found blood in her stool.
Natalie Rushdie, a friend of the late cancer campaigner, is releasing Tell Me It’s Not True, which she sang a year ago at Dame Debs’ funeral, alongside a video, which was shared exclusively by Femail.
Now, Prince William has shared his support for the single, of which 100 per cent of the proceeds will go to Dame Deborah’s Bowel Babe Fund. The royal stressed how proud the campaigner would have been of these fundraising efforts.
It comes as Dame Deborah James’s mother posted a heartfelt message on the first anniversary of her daughter’s death.
Prince William met with Deborah James to award her Damehood for her tireless campaigning and fundraising for cancer research
Prince William, who visited the cancer campaigner at her parents’ home in Surrey before she died to make her a dame, also paid tribute, hailing her as an inspiration.
He told The Sun: ‘Dame Debs would be so proud. She inspired the nation. Her legacy will be countless lives saved from bowel cancer.
‘I’m wishing Natalie all the very best for her single release to raise money for such an important cause,’ he added.
The emotional video shows Natalie recording the song – a cover from the Willy Russell musical Blood Brothers – at Abbey Road studios.
The footage is interlaced with clips of Dame Deborah James throughout her life, including dancing in the rain in her garden and in the hospital with her nurses.
Clips also show her dancing in the garden with her children Hugo, 15, and Eloise, 13, as well as her husband Sebastien Bowen.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Sebastien said: ‘It’s so touching to have Natalie pay tribute to Deborah, by immortalising this song which meant so much to her.
‘She performed it beautifully at Deborah’s funeral, and this production is simply breathtaking. I have known Zafar [Natalie’s husband] for over 25 years, and it was through this close friendship that Deborah and I got to know Natalie.
The broadcaster and former headteacher, known as Bowel Babe, died at the age of 40 in June 2022, five years after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer
Natalie Rushdie, a friend of the late cancer campaigner, is releasing Tell Me It’s Not True alongside a video, which can now be exclusively shared by Femail
‘The family is so grateful to Natalie and everyone who has supported and taken part in this recording – thank you.’
Natalie is releasing the track at the request of Dame Deborah’s family, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK.
It comes as Dame Deborah James’s mother posted a heartfelt message on the first anniversary of her daughter’s death.
Heather James, 65, shared an emotional tribute to her ‘interesting, fun, and manic’ daughter and the ‘incredible legacy’ she left behind.
The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-four Heather reflected on her daughter’s life and her ‘determination to help others achieve their full potential’.
Taking to Instagram to pay tribute to her daughter, her mother Heather wrote: ‘Today is the first anniversary of our eldest child Deborah’s death. Deborah came into the world full of energy and never stopped over the next 40 years.
‘The past 12 months have not been easy but we remember with immense pride and love the amazing impact she had on so many lives and the incredible legacy she has left.
The footage is interlaced with clips of Dame Deborah James throughout her life, including dancing in the rain in her garden and in the hospital with her nurses and her husband Sebestien (right)
The emotional video shows Natalie recording the song – a cover from the Willy Russell musical Blood Brothers – at Abbey Road studios
Natalie (pictured with Deborah) is releasing the track at the request of Dame Deborah’s family, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK
Natalie Rushdie and Zafar Rushdie are pictured at Deborah’s funeral, where Natalie sung Tell Me It’s Not True
The emotional track from Blood Brothers was performed at Deborah’s funeral last year
‘We were young parents when Deborah was born and the first cuddles and touches with your firstborn are something you remember forever and cannot be taken away from you – life with Debs was always interesting, fun, and manic but there was always a determination in her to help others achieve their full potential especially in her teaching career.
‘When first diagnosed with Bowel Cancer it took us time to realise the seriousness of her diagnosis but we immediately knew she wanted to share her story with others to establish open communication about a subject that many considered a taboo – you will all agree she succeeded !
‘We followed and supported her work in the last 5 years of life but also remembered we were there as her ever loving parents and grandparents to her children.
‘In what became very difficult times it was wonderful to see the immense love and support she received from her husband Sebastien and their children, her siblings Sarah & Ben together with the unwavering support of their families.
She continued: ‘During her final weeks at home the atmosphere was unique but most importantly loving – we all understood what the end would be, although I struggled to believe that Deborah was facing the end of her life that she loved so much, but there was a determination to enjoy every last minute and experiences we had together.
‘Although I’m sure nobody expected that Prince William would join us for tea & champagne!!
Dame Deborah became dear to the nation’s hearts after she was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer in 2016 at the age of just 35.
Earning love and respect through social media and her blog BowelBabe, and later the airwaves of the BBC Radio 5 Live podcast, You, Me and the Big C, Deborah passed away on the 28th June 2022 at 40 years old.
In the years following her diagnosis, Deborah did all she could to raise awareness of bowel cancer and fundraise for vital research.
She became the nation’s sweetheart, known fondly by her ‘Rebellious Hope’ mantra.
Natalie sang at her funeral last year, with the lyrics to ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’ holding special value to everyone who knows Deborah’s story, in particular those closest to her.
Natalie Rushdie poses with orchestra members at the Bowelbabe Fund charity single recording at Abbey Road Studios
A year on, Natalie re-sang, and recorded the song in the iconic Studio 2 of Abbey Road Studios with the accompaniment of 25 musicians.
The world-renowned producer, Haydn Bendall who has worked with the likes of Kate Bush, Tina Turner, and The Pet Shop Boys produced the track, while Willy Russell who wrote the original score for Blood Brothers, where ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’ originates, is in full support of this recording.
Natalie and Deborah met seven years ago, becoming great friends and respecting each other’s zest for life – the two became even closer after both surviving Sepsis.
Natalie a well-established jazz singer having performed sold-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall, London Coliseum and St Paul’s Cathedral was honoured when her dear friend asked her to sing at the funeral.
The clip shows Deborah dancing in her garden with her mother (left) and outside Buckingham Palace (right)
The emotional clip shows how Deborah didn’t let her diagnosis get her down, she is shown dancing with a bunny in a park
A year later, Deborah’s parents Heather and Alistair asked Natalie to officially record the song in their daughter’s memory.
The project has brilliantly snowballed to become a beautiful homage to Deborah’s ‘Rebellious Hope’ legacy.
Proceeds from the charity single will be donated directly to the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, including the publishing and writing royalties.
The Fund supports cutting-edge research into early detection and personalised medicine, raises awareness of signs and symptoms, and tackles the stigmas around cancer.
To date the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK has raised over £11.3 million.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Natalie said: ‘The last time I saw Deborah, about a week before she died, she asked me to sing Tell Me It’s Not True at her funeral.
‘It was one of the hardest and most emotional performances I’ve ever had to do. I miss her voice, her vibrancy for life, her dancing, her constant support and our friendship but I know somewhere she will be dancing to her song.
‘I am honoured to sing and record this beautiful track in Deborah’s name and I hope the public get behind us to support this wonderful project.’
Heather and Alistair James, Deborah’s parents, added they were ‘delighted’ and that they know ‘Deborah would be delighted and honoured’ by the track.
The former deputy head teacher, who was known to many as Bowel Babe, intimately detailed the last five years of her life online.
Her candid posts about her progress and diagnosis – including videos of her dancing her way through treatment – won praise from the public and media alike.
She launched the You, Me And The Big C podcast in 2018, alongside Lauren Mahon and Rachael Bland.
In May 2022, the podcaster revealed that she had stopped active treatment and was receiving end-of-life care at her parents’ home in Woking, Surrey, with her husband and their two children on hand.
In the months leading up to her death, Deborah had Prince William over for tea, who made her a Dame.
Living life on her own terms despite her illness, she designed Charity T-shirts a clothing line to raise millions more for her Bowelbabe fund.
The Dame also wrote and published her second book How to Live When You Could Be Dead, while suffering from cancer, detailing how developing a positive mindset was key to enabling her to cope with her diagnosis.
She told her children, Hugo, 15 and Eloise, 13, to ‘take chances and experience life now’ and to marry for love in a heartbreaking final letter.
Tell Me It’s Not True’ by Natalie Rushdie is available from all major streaming and download platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, TikTok, Deezer, YouTube and more. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK.