BBC presenter Nicki Chapman opens up about cancer scare: "Take me now or let me live"

In a recent interview, Escape to the Country star Nicki Chapman, 57, recounted the alarming moment her speech started to slur and her vision became impaired. The BBC presenter sought immediate medical attention and was told by doctors that she had a tumor the size of a golf ball.

Thankfully, the tumor was non-malignant, and Chapman underwent emergency surgery in 2019 to have it removed.

Speaking to The Times about her diagnosis, Chapman said: “It makes me cry. I have had an amazing life. And, once the bombshell of the tumour dropped, I thought, I don't want to give this life up. But if this is it?”

“It makes me cry. I have had an amazing life. And, once the bombshell of the tumour dropped, I thought, I don’t want to give this life up. But if this is it? Well - how lucky have I been? That sounds so glossy, but I was born with the glass half-full. I found a strength to deal with it.

“It was either take me now or let me live.”

Following this traumatic experience, Nicki published her memoir, So Tell Me What You Want, and now serves as a patron for the Brain Tumour Charity. She is married to music producer Dave 'Shacky' Shackleton, the vice-president of Sony BMG International.

The couple recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, with Nicki posting a heartfelt tribute online.