Dame Deborah James shares marriage advice for children Hugo and Eloise in heartbreaking final letter: ‘Marry for love’

Dame Deborah James wrote a special letter for her children Hugo and Eloise in her new book (Image: Getty/Instagram)

Dame Deborah James urged her teenage sons to “marry for love” when they grow up in her latest letter to them.

The You, Me & The Big C podcast host died in June aged 40 after a highly publicized battle with bowel cancer, which he used to raise awareness of the disease until his final days.

In the months before her death, Dame Deborah wrote a letter to her children Hugo, 14, and Eloise, 12, which she shared with her husband Sebastien Bowen.

The emotional letter appears in the broadcaster’s upcoming book, How To Live When You Could Be Dead, and sees her recall what drew her to Sebastien, her marital challenges and what she hopes for her own marriages in the future.

She began, “I never knew if you could really have the love of your life, but now I know the core of the unquestionable love between two people.

“I have always loved my husband.”

Dame Deborah died in June after battling bowel cancer (Image: Rex Features) In her letter, Dame Deborah admitted her marriage to Sebastien Bowen was not “perfect” but remained the love of his life (Image: Getty Images)

Dame Deborah admitted she “liked” Sebastien from the moment they met and even knew she was going to marry him on their third date. She explained that he “wasn’t perfect” but she knew he was the right man for her as he respected her, while refusing to be taken with her.

“If I look into any room 18 years later, I still find him the most attractive man,” Dame Deborah wrote according to The Sun.

Dame Deborah raised millions for cancer charities through her Bowelbabe Fund (Image: Instagram/bowelbabe)

The presenter admitted that their marriage “wasn’t without work” and that the “day-to-day complexities sometimes got in the way”. Sharing advice for her children, she reminded them not to let big arguments build up and to resolve them immediately.

He later told Hugo and Eloise, “Marry only for love.”

More: Cancer

It comes after banker Sebastien spoke out for the first time to share his grief following Dame Deborah’s death, as he recalled how she “escaped” peacefully with him by her side. The two married in 2008 and shared 14 years together before his death.

Dame Deborah raised millions for cancer charities through her Bowelbabe Fund in her final weeks and was personally given her lady status by Prince William.


Macmillan Cancer Support

If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.

You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week 8am to 8pm), use their web chat service or visit their site for more information .

MORE: Dame Deborah James’ husband speaks for first time since death, recalls moment he ‘escaped’

MORE: Dame Deborah James’ mother pays emotional tribute to late cancer campaigner who will be ‘forever missed’ a month after she died aged 40

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