A man who documented his journey with incurable cancer has died just days after his friend, Dame Deborah James.
Darren Roberts appeared as a guest on BBC’s You, Me and the Big C podcast, which was hosted by Deborah along with Steve Bland (who replaced his wife Rachael when she died) and Lauren Mahon.
The 54-year-old, who was also known as The Enlightened Arsehole, was first diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2016, which developed into metastatic kidney cancer.
Darren was praised by many for his frank and honest account of the disease, with gifting project Don’t Buy Her Flowers describing him as ‘a source of great comfort and solidarity to many’.
Darren Roberts has died at 54, with a moving tribute paid. Credit: Instagram, @the_enlightened_arsehole
A statement posted on his Instagram page announced that he died yesterday, 4 July, in the early evening, and paid thanks to the staff at The Royal Marsden.
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The statement said: “There is so much I want to write here as Darren was one of life’s greats – a real character and a true gent – but I simply don’t think there is enough space. Everyone that met Dazza fell a little bit in love with him.
“Whilst my time with him was cut short way too soon, I look upon every moment of my 3.5 years with him as the biggest gift. I’m so happy the stars aligned and brought us together – we were soulmates and each other’s ‘one’.”
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It then described Darren’s last craving (which he called his ‘hankerings’).
The post says: “Two days before he passed away he had slept most of the morning and couldn’t speak that clearly. I suddenly heard the faint word ‘Mortadella’ muttered and I realised he wanted a mortadella sandwich.
“The nurses tipped me off about the best Italian deli on the Fulham Road and so off I marched in search of this special sandwich that Sir had requested. Whilst his appetite had really dwindled, he sat in his bed and ate every last bite of that sandwich, washed down with a can of coke. He kept giving me the thumbs up and called it his ‘last supper.’ Which heartbreakingly it was.
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“In honour of my Dazza, I’d like to ask you all to enjoy a mortadella sandwich at some point soon and remember him. If you don’t know what it is and have never tried it – even better – you will thank him!
“He received so much support from you all on here so I’d like to thank you for being there for him. Godspeed my love. 26.07.67 – 04.07.22.”
Steve Bland paid tribute to Darren, writing: “I am going straight away to get a Mortadella sandwich and the rest to toast an extraordinary guy who did so much to help so many people. Rest easy pal. You smashed it.”
He also wrote: “Absolutely gutted. Top man and part of the YouMeBigC family, who took us along through his whole journey. Rest easy pal.”
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Six days ago, when Dame Deborah passed away, Darren simply wrote: “I cannot say anything at the moment – I’m genuinely gutted. #f*ckcancer.”
Featured image: Stand Up 2 Cancer
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A club night where you can’t get in without a hat is making its way to Manchester
Thomas Melia
There’s a club night happening in Manchester where you won’t be let in unless you wear a hat, and they really mean it, too.
Anyone wanting to go to this club night better get their thinking caps on as well as a physical hat too, because you’re actually not allowed into the venue without one of these fashion accessories on.
Club rules change over time and typically include your usual “No trackies, no joggers”, but instead of permitting you from the clothes you can wear, this club night wants you to bring an item with you: a hat.
They say home is wherever you lay your hat, turns out the party is too.
You could have your own bucket hat moment at this Manchester club night.Everyone has a cowboy hat hanging around somewhere… right?Credit: The Manc Group
Boldly-named club night ‘Don’t F**k with Disco’ is coming to Manchester and has one very simple rule “No hat, no entry”, so if you’ve bought your ticket you better get trying on some headpieces, stat.
One headwear item that never seems to go out of style is the cowboy hat, partly thanks to flurries of fans sporting these at Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, Chappell Roan’s ‘Pink Pony Club’ phenomenon, the resurgent country music scene and so on.
Or why not box off two outfits at once by getting yourself a bucket hat, which has you covered for this hat-wearing night out and Oasis’ gigs, if you managed to get your hands on those pesky tickets.
There’s an endless list of headwear you could sport to this hat-wearing club night, and we’re sure anyone thinking of attending will see some bold and beautiful bonnets.
The venue hosting ‘Don’t F**k with Disco Manchester’ is Un:Titled Studio in Salford which is trading in its photography studio title for one night and transforming itself into a clubbing hotspot.
A Manchester club night all about hats? This Guinness one seems very fitting. Why have one bucket hat when you can have two?
This photography studio can host up to 700 guests in its largest room, titled ‘Studio 1’, with two other smaller indoor rooms and a larger outdoor space which boasts an impressive 750 capacity, wow.
This hat-wearing club night frenzy is coming to Un:Titled Studio on Saturday, 24 May from 10pm all the way through to 4am, so you can top your night off by dancing until the early hours.
Anyone looking to attend ‘Don’t F**k with Disco Manchester’ can find tickets HERE, just remember the golden rule… “No hat, no entry”.
See you on the dancefloor – we’re thinking something like a rhinestone Stetson…
Luxury Manchester gym and pilates studio mysteriously closes
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s most premium fitness facilities appears to have closed down, leaving members and instructors in the dark.
A forfeiture notice has appeared at the entrance of Blok, a boutique gym and pilates studio in the city centre.
Members have been arriving for classes this week to find the luxury facility at Ducie Street Warehouse closed up.
Native Places, which owns the beautifully restored mill building near Manchester Piccadilly and operates the upper floors as an aparthotel, has confirmed that it’s taken ‘formal possession of the ground floor gym’.
Blok have yet to release any information to members or staff regarding the closure of their Manchester location, but members have noticed that they are able to book classes from Thursday – despite the gym being shut.
With three different studios, Blok opened in 2019 offering classes ranging from dumbbell-based weight training to barre and pilates, as well as boxing, calisthenics and HIIT workouts.
Last year, the gym introduced reformer pilates to its premium offering.
And just last week, Blok had been running a Crowdcube campaign selling shares in the business in exchange for exclusive investor rewards.
Blok Manchester is inside Ducie Street Warehouse, owned by Native Places
Their investment campaign cited 175% growth in membership over the last 12 months, and promised four new flagship sites forecast to generate £1.5m in profit annually.
Alas, it appears Blok Manchester is now closed. Members have been leaving comments on their Instagram posts asking for updates, and several people are posting TikToks saying they were unable to attend their class.
One person wrote: “Hello I’ve lost my personality as Blok is closed *cry*.”
She added: “You can still book but it’s all locked up, no one can enter the premises … I got one email that they’re having ‘trouble accessing the building’, confused why they’re still allowing people to book??”
Hello I’ve lost my personality as Blok is closed *cry* Good Pilates/Mat/Barre/ reformer studios in Manchester. Also please no say a place that costs the same as my kidney, because that’s not cool 🙂 #BLOK#manchesterpilates#MCR#FYP
A statement from Native Places said: “Native Places has taken formal possession of the ground floor gym following the sustained non-payment of rent by the tenant.
“This action marks the end of a six-year relationship during which Native has consistently supported the tenant in their occupation of the space.
“Unfortunately, due to continued non-payment, we have had no option but to follow the appropriate legal process. The premises have now been secured, and access is restricted.”
Daisy Jackson -
5th July 2022 
