BLAND WAS AN INSPIRATION

BROADCASTER Rachael Bland changed the national conversation about cancer. Diagnosed with the disease in 2016, the Radio 5 Live presenter courageously used her journalistic skills to help other sufferers. Through her blog and a hit podcast with two pals, Rachael charted her experiences in a frank, emotive and inspiring way – breaking b taboos and banishing euphemisms. With just days to live, she tweeted that her podcast would continue without her as she bade “Au revoir” to pals. Rachael, seen right with hubby Steve and son Freddie, three, died on Wednesday, aged 40. And I was one of the many who wrote about her “battle” with cancer. But Rachael has made me realise what a terrible metaphor that is. It implies that, in dying, cancer sufferers somehow “lose” a fight Rachael Bland was no loser. And by continuing her honest, cliche-free conversation, her legacy will live on.

But in The Last Movie Star, the film Burt was plugging when we spoke, he played a washed-up actor reflecting on a career of missed opportunities. I told the Smokey and the Bandit star that his touching performance had moved me to tears. Burt confessed it made him cry too – though not from regret or a sense the end was nigh. But after six decades making box-office buster rather than Oscar winners, he’d finally been able to “show my soul”. He said: “When you’ve spent your career driving fast cars and punching and shooting people you don’t get much chance to show some

I CAUGHT up on the first two episodes of Bake Off this week and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Nice bunch of bakers this year, and even Prue is growing on me.

But I fear my midriff may soon be growing too – because it has prompted me to start cake baking again.

And, all modesty aside, I do a damned good coffee and walnut cake.

But Channel 4 have helpfully provided a solution to Bake Off Belly in the form