BBC presenter Rachael Bland dies at age 40

BBC presenter Rachael Bland loses battle to cancer

BBC newsreader Rachael Bland has lost her battle with cancer at the age of 40, just days after farewelling her friends and fans on social media.

Bland's tragic death comes two years after she was after diagnosed with breast cancer. Her family confirmed that the mother-of-one passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones.

Our brave, beautiful, wonderful, courageous Rachael died peacefully this morning surrounded by her close family. We are all heartbroken and the hole she leaves in our perfect little family will never be filled. To everyone who took an interest in her story over the last two years, downloaded the awe-inspiring You, Me and the Big C podcast or sent her messages of support, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You'll never know how much those messages meant to her and us. We'll miss her so very much but we couldn't be prouder of what she achieved in her 40 years, and we are genuinely comforted by the impact we know she had on so many lives. Thank you. Steve and Freddie xxx

Bland was a newsreader on Radio 5 Live and co-hosted a podcast about cancer called You, Me and the Big C. She also ran an award-winning blog about her life with the diagnosis.

Following the announcement, Bland’s husband, Steve said in a statement: “She was an incredibly talented broadcaster as well as a wonderful and much loved daughter, sister, aunt, niece, wife and, most importantly to her, a mother to her precious little Freddie.”

Rachael Bland on Twitter

Just three days earlier, Bland took to social media to farewell her fans after being told she had days to live.

Natasha Price

Natasha Price is WHO magazine's Kardashian and Royal Wedding-obsessed Digital Content Editor.