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’.
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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.
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
News
New stations appear across Manchester for city’s rentable ‘Burnham bike’ scheme
Daisy Jackson
The roll-out of Greater Manchester’s Bee Bike cycle hire scheme has stepped up a gear, with new docking stations appearing across the city centre.
The scheme, nicknamed the ‘Burnham bikes’ as a nod to London’s ‘Boris bikes’, initially launched in Salford and along the Oxford Road corridor.
Several new yellow stations have appeared around Manchester now, with plenty more on the way.
The next phase of the roll-out of the Bee Bikes has seen stations installed around St Peter’s Square and Manchester Central.
‘Burnham Bike’ cycle hire stations near St Peter’s Square. Credit: The Manc Group
By the time the scheme is complete, bike numbers will increase to 1,500, which will include 300 e-bikes.
It’s all part of the vision for a Bee Network – a joined-up, integrated public transport network across the region.
And it’s certainly off to a more successful start than Mobike, which famously withdrew from Manchester due to high levels of vandalism and theft.
The Bee Bikes are funded by TgGM and operated by Beryl, which runs similar schemes in London, Watford and Bournemouth.
Here you go – your new “Bee Bikes” which will be on our streets from November. 👇🏻
Many will be e-bikes and, in time, part of a single integrated payment system across bikes, buses and trams.
Richard Nickson, programme director, Cycling and Walking at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “The cycle hire scheme has really taken off in Greater Manchester since it was first introduced, and we are seeing significant numbers of riders and distances travelled by on the bikes- which is fantastic, particularly as we are still in the early days of the scheme’s roll out.
“The next phase of the roll-out has now started in Manchester city centre, with new stations installed at key locations including Manchester Central Library, Manchester Central Convention Centre and St Peter’s Square.
“More stations are due to be installed in Manchester city centre over the coming weeks, before the scheme continues to expand its footprint to new locations in Salford and Trafford.
“Once complete the scheme will see bike numbers increase to 1,500 – including 300 e-bikes – and over 150 new stations in operation.”
Manchester is OFFICIALLY in the running to host Eurovision
Daisy Jackson
The potential host cities for Eurovision 2023 have been announced this morning – and Manchester is officially in with a chance.
The UK has stepped in to host the global singing contest in place of this year’s winners, Ukraine.
As our nation was runner-up this year with Sam Ryder’s Spaceman giving us our biggest success in years, it’s over to the UK to welcome all the countries taking part.
Cities have been announcing their bids for several weeks, with 20 expressions of interest to host sent in.
Sam Ryder came second in last year’s Eurovision. Credit: BBC
But it’s a complicated event, so those who wish to host need to actually have a suitable venue and the financial contribution too, and demonstrate that they will celebrate and honour Ukrainian culture and artists.
The shortlist of seven cities has just been announced live on BBC Radio Two, on Zoe Ball’s breakfast show.
“We have a large and proud Ukrainian community in Manchester. It would be our privilege to host this iconic celebration on their behalf and we will do everything we can to honour them throughout.”
“We’re exceptionally grateful that the BBC has accepted to stage the Eurovision Song Contest in the UK in 2023,” said Martin Österdahl, the Eurovision Song Contest’s Executive Supervisor.
“The BBC has taken on hosting duties for other winning countries on four previous occasions. Continuing in this tradition of solidarity, we know that next year’s Contest will showcase the creativity and skill of one of Europe’s most experienced public broadcasters whilst ensuring this year’s winners, Ukraine, are celebrated and represented throughout the event.”
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The final decision will be based on scoring criteria from the BBC and the EBU.
It’s expected that the host city will officially be announced in the autumn.
Daisy Jackson -
5th July 2022 
