Julia Bradbury makes frightening admission as BBC Countryfile star reflects – ‘Death looked me in the eyes’
Former Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury has revealed how a breast cancer diagnosis in 2021 prompted her to completely transform her lifestyle after “death looked me in the eyes”.
The 54-year-old television personality, who has since been given the all-clear, underwent a mastectomy to remove a 6cm tumour and two lymph glands.
The presenter, who underwent reconstruction following her mastectomy, has since embraced a rigorous health-focused approach to life. “I wasn’t close to death, but death looked me in the eyes,” Bradbury said, explaining how the diagnosis led her to dramatically reshape her priorities and daily routines.
In her new health-focused lifestyle, Bradbury has completely eliminated alcohol and committed to daily exercise routines.
“I am more focused on my health than I ever have been. I don’t drink, I eat a healthy diet and exercise every day,” she told The Times.
Bradbury made a powerful promise to herself after returning home from her surgery.
“When I came home from my mastectomy, I promised I would spend time outside every day, and that is my mantra, however poor it might be in this s***ty winter,” she revealed.
Her dedication to outdoor activities includes braving cold water swimming, with a recent Christmas Day dip in 7C waters.
Despite sharing her wellness journey with her 270,000 Instagram followers, Bradbury has faced criticism from some quarters.
She revealed receiving push back from people who challenged her health-focused approach, saying: “I was healthy, I go to the gym, I got cancer, and now it’s metastasised and I’ve got secondary cancer. So are you blaming me for my illness?”
Bradbury firmly defended her lifestyle choices, explaining: “If I drink more than four units of alcohol a week, my risk of reoccurrence goes up by 28%. But people find me giving up drinking infuriating.”
Bradbury, who has three children – 13-year-old Zephyr and nine-year-old twins Xanthe and Zena – has been candid about the challenges of parenting post-cancer.
She confessed that having children later in life has made her less patient than she feels she should be, having become more set in her ways.
The presenter admitted struggling with expectations following her diagnosis, saying she felt she should “become this beautiful angel with a halo” but still makes the same mistakes.
“I do lose my temper and can’t believe some of the things I say,” she revealed, while insisting she’s doing her best as a parent and ensures her children know they are loved daily.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
BBC Outnumbered star issues statement as they address controversial ending amid backlash to returnJanette Manrara shares heartbreaking family loss as Strictly star reflects on ‘really tough’ griefZoe Ball’s son in further heartbreak as family suffer fresh loss: ‘Make every second count’
Bradbury continues to document her wellness journey through social media, regularly sharing videos of her outdoor activities including hiking and swimming.
On Christmas Day, she demonstrated her commitment by taking a freezing outdoor swim, encouraging others with the mantra: “We can do hard things.”
The presenter has been open about her initial diagnosis journey, revealing she almost didn’t attend her crucial follow-up appointment.
“When you hear the words ‘you have cancer’ your world stops. They’re words no one wants to hear – it’s a club that no one wants to be part of,” she reflected.
Bradbury, who is married to property developer Gerard Cunningham, remains dedicated to sharing her experiences with her followers.