ITV's Loose Women panellist Nadia Sawalha has shared her heartbreak following the death of her best friend, Hannah Gardner, who passed away at the age of 39 after a long battle with cancer.
A Heartfelt Tribute to a 'Beautiful' Friend
Nadia Sawalha announced the tragic news on social media, posting a poignant photograph of Hannah wearing a sparkly dress and sitting on a swing. Alongside the image, the television personality wrote an emotional tribute. "Rest in peace now darling," she began.
She continued, expressing the profound grief felt by Hannah's loved ones. "Our beautiful Hannah... Although we knew it was coming we are all so deeply shocked and distraught. No need to be brave anymore darling you can now rest in peace, and all the love you created. You were and will forever be deeply loved."
Sawalha also extended her gratitude to the medical staff who provided care in Hannah's final days, specifically thanking the team at The Princess Alice Hospice in Esher for their "extraordinary" kindness shown to Hannah, her friends, and her family.
A Decade-Long Fight and a Campaign for Treatment
Hannah Gardner's cancer journey began in 2013 when she was first diagnosed with primary breast cancer after finding a lump in her left breast. Despite undergoing treatment, the disease returned in 2017 and again in 2020.
The situation became more grave in 2022 when Hannah was told she had stage four incurable breast cancer, which had spread to her liver. Last year, she shared a devastating update on social media, revealing that tumours in her liver were growing, with "four big ones" and numerous smaller spots appearing.
In 2024, Hannah appeared alongside Nadia on Loose Women to campaign for access to a pioneering cancer drug that had been blocked for use in England by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The institute stated the cost asked of the NHS was 'too high', despite the drug having the potential to extend Hannah's life by approximately six months.
Speaking to The Daily Mail at the time, Nadia voiced their frustration. "We've got this young woman, with a young autistic child, with secondary breast cancer in her liver, in her lung, and she's also supposed to be basically begging for this drug. And it just seems brutal," she said.
A Community in Mourning
Nadia's husband, Mark Adderley, also shared his sorrow online, describing Hannah as "a beautiful woman - a beautiful friend - a beautiful mother" and expressing his disbelief at her passing.
Friends and followers flooded the comments with messages of condolence. One person wrote, "Beautiful Han. She loved you all so much Nadia. What a woman. She will be so missed," while another added, "So so sorry to hear this news." A third comment reflected on Hannah's relief from suffering: "So sorry for your loss.. it's too sad but so glad she's not in pain."
Nadia had previously spoken of the close bond within their friendship group, known as the 'Fab Four', who met seven years ago on a trek raising money for breast cancer. She praised Hannah's resilience, noting she had been told she had cancer four times but "never falters."
During her television appearance, Hannah poignantly highlighted what the blocked drug would have meant for her. "Six months might not sound like a long time, but it is in the world of secondary breast cancer," she said, emphasising her desire for more time with her young daughter.
