02.04.25
TUESDAY 1 APRIL, 2025
Talent images here
GABY ROSLIN, MELVIN ODOOM AND MERLIN GRIFFITHS TEAM UP WITH THE BOWELBABE FUND TO HELP SMASH POO TABOOS IN NEW ‘TOILET TALK’ SERIES
The Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK has today launched ‘Toilet Talk’, a new social media-led series to help encourage more honest, open conversations about poo and bowel cancer and make it easier to tell a doctor if something isn’t quite right.
The Fund was set up to continue the legacy of bowel cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 at the age of 35 and sadly died in June 2022, and to help fulfil her wish to give more people affected by cancer more time with the people they love.
Launched to coincide with April’s Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, episodes feature broadcaster and author, Gaby Roslin, radio DJ and TV show host, Melvin Odoom, and Channel 4 First Dates bartender Merlin Griffiths, who was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in 2021. Sharing some of their funniest and most memorable poo stories, each celebrity encourages viewers to start their own conversations about poo to help smash taboos, while sat on a neon-lit purple loo.
Starting with Gaby Roslin's episode today (1 April), content from the series will land on the Bowelbabe Fund's website, Instagram and Facebook pages throughout April, with full episodes on Cancer Research UK’s YouTube channel.
Gaby Roslin, said:
“My dad had bowel cancer, as did my lovely friend Debs. She never shied away from talking about poo - from telling people to check theirs, to dressing up as one at any and every opportunity. Debs was a very special person, and I’m so delighted to be able to continue the amazing work she started by being part of Toilet Talk.
“The more we all talk about poo, the more it’ll help break the taboo. I talk about poo all the time!”
Merlin Griffiths, who underwent surgery and treatment for bowel cancer, said:
“It’s really important we get more comfortable talking about poo. Shortly before being diagnosed, I noticed odd shaped stools leading to chronic constipation. It was easy to write other symptoms off as maybe a bad takeaway, but eventually I did speak to my doctor who didn’t initially find anything out of order. It wasn’t until another episode of chronic constipation and pain that I sought further help. I was referred for a sigmoidoscopy (a test to look inside your large bowel) and was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer.
“My message to others is do not be embarrassed. Don’t hold it in, and don’t hold back. If something doesn’t feel right for you, talk to somebody ASAP! It could save your life, it did mine.”
Melvin Odoom, said:
“Almost all of us have a connection to someone that has been affected by cancer. Whatever you call it - poo, doo doo, the big stuff, the brown stuff, boo boos - just don’t be afraid to talk about your poo, it can save lives.”
Toilet Talk launches against the backdrop of new YouGov data* commissioned by the Fund that revealed:
- Nearly a third (32%) of UK adults surveyed, an estimated 17.4 million UK adults, said that they are embarrassed or uncomfortable talking about changes in their poo or bowel habits to a GP or doctor
- Almost half (47%), said that they are uncomfortable talking to a friend about their poo or bowel habits – that's around 25.6 million UK adults
- An estimated 21 million UK adults, around 4 in 10 (39%) also said they are uncomfortable talking to a family member about their poo or bowel habits
Common reasons cited included that poo and bowel habits aren’t a ‘normal’ topic to bring up in conversation, they are a personal matter, talking about them and any changes to them would make others feel embarrassed, and individuals themselves would feel embarrassed about discussing any changes.
To help smash poo taboos, the Fund is asking people to like and share the Toilet Talk videos. Complimenting the videos, national newspaper adverts and posters in Cancer Research UK shops across the UK will be seen throughout April.
This is part of the Bowelbabe Fund’s wider drive to encourage people to talk about their poo and bowel habits with friends, family and those they trust - the idea being that by talking about poo more, people will feel more comfortable and empowered to speak to a health professional if they do spot something unusual. Leaflets will also be available in the charity’s shops to help people to speak about possible symptoms of bowel cancer with their doctor.
This is important because diagnosing cancer at an early stage saves lives. Bowel cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the UK. In England, more than 9 in 10 people with bowel cancer survive their disease for 5 years or more, if diagnosed at the earliest stage. This falls to 1 in 10 people when bowel cancer is diagnosed at the most advanced stage.
Common symptoms can include a change in bowel habits (such as needing to go for a poo more often, looser poo or constipation) bleeding from the bottom or blood in poo, unexplained weight loss, a pain or lump in the stomach and feeling more tired than usual. But the Fund says the most important thing people can do is listen to their body and, no matter the change, speak to their doctor if something isn’t normal for them.
The Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK has raised £17m to date and recently announced a £2m donation towards CRC-STARS the (Colorectal Cancer — Stratification of Therapies through Adaptive Responses) initiative which will bring together world-leading experts to help make personalised medicine a reality for people with bowel cancer. This was an area of cancer research Deborah was particularly passionate about.
People can support its work by pre-ordering the new Bowelbabe Fund charity t-shirt, via CRUK's Amazon shop or donating to London Marathon Team Bowelbabe.**
ENDS