Beloved BBC presenter Nicki Chapman, known for her radiant smile and calm presence on Escape to the Country, has revealed the devastating news that her brain tumour has returned — marking a painful new chapter in her ongoing health battle.

In an emotional interview with The Times on October 16, the 57-year-old star opened up about the terrifying resurgence of symptoms that once nearly took her life.

“I’m not ready to say goodbye yet,” she whispered. “I still have so much to live for.”

🧠 A Battle That Changed Everything

Nicki’s story began in May 2019, when doctors discovered a golf ball–sized meningioma pressing dangerously close to her optic nerve and speech centre. What started as mild disorientation after knee surgery quickly spiraled into a shocking diagnosis.

“Within days, they told me I had a brain tumour. I couldn’t believe it,” she recalled.

Emergency surgery followed — a gruelling operation that removed most of the tumour. Miraculously, within six weeks, Nicki was back on television, smiling bravely as if nothing had happened. But the fear never truly left her.

“Every 18 months, I go back for a scan,” she explained. “Even when they tell me it’s gone, there’s always that whisper: what if it comes back?”

Her powerful 2024 memoir, So Tell Me What You Want, detailed her journey and went on to raise over £200,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity, proving her resilience could inspire far beyond the screen.

💬 “It Makes Me Cry — But I’m Still Grateful”

Now, as symptoms quietly resurface — headaches, exhaustion, nights spent alone in hospital corridors — Nicki admits that the battle feels heavier this time.

“Sometimes I cry,” she said softly. “It’s overwhelming — the pain, the fear, the waiting. But I try to put those memories away in my mental filing cabinet so I can keep moving forward.”

Her husband, Dave Shackleton, and their children Olly (20) and Chrissie (18) remain her anchors — even though the house, she admits, often feels “too quiet.”

“They’re living their own lives, and that’s how it should be. But when you’re left alone with your thoughts… that’s when it gets dark. Then I remind myself: I’m still here. I’m lucky.”

🌈 Turning Pain Into Purpose

Instead of retreating, Nicki has transformed her pain into purpose. As a patron of The Brain Tumour Charity, she continues to campaign for awareness and research funding.

“Every single day, 34 people in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour,” she explained. “And yet most adults couldn’t name even one symptom. That has to change.”

Her words have touched thousands — her advocacy inspiring hope where fear once lived. With over half a million copies of her memoir sold and countless lives uplifted, Nicki’s mission has never been about fame, but faith, awareness, and connection.

“This isn’t about me,” she insisted. “It’s about every family sitting in that waiting room, holding on to hope.”

💖 Fans in Tears, Celebrities in Awe

After her revelation, social media flooded with love under the hashtag #NickiNerve.

“Warriors weep tonight,” one fan wrote. “Nicki, you’ve given us courage when we needed it most.”

Celebrities joined the outpouring: Ken Bruce called her “a beacon of strength,” while Carol Vorderman praised her as “a sister in resilience — beautiful, inside and out.”

🕊️ The Spirit That Refuses to Break

Despite the pain, Nicki continues to film Escape to the Country, her gentle voice and familiar warmth offering comfort to millions.

“I might cry,” she admitted. “I might be scared. But I won’t give up. I’ve been given a second chance — and I’m going to live it, every single day.”

For a woman once given only a 13% chance to live, Nicki Chapman remains a symbol of hope, courage, and grace. Her scars are not signs of defeat — they are proof of survival.

And as she faces another uncertain chapter, her message to the world remains heartbreakingly simple:

💬 “I’m not ready to say goodbye yet — because I still have so much to live for.”