BBC presenter's tragic death after devastating diagnosis on New Year's Eve

By Leah Stanfield, Assistant Showbiz Editor

Dianne Oxberry died of ovarian cancer 10 days after her diagnosis. (Image: BBC)

This new year marks the sixth anniversary of broadcaster Dianne Oxberry's tragic death from ovarian cancer, a diagnosis she received just days before her untimely passing.

The BBC presenter was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on New Year's Eve 2018 and lost her battle merely 10 days later at the age of 51.

She died in January 2019 at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, leaving behind her husband Ian Hindle and their two children.

Dianne was first known for her work on BBC Radio 1 alongside Simon Mayo and Steve Wright in the 1980s. She later studied meteorology and joined BBC North West Tonight in 1994 as a weather presenter. She remained there for more than 20 years.

After her death, Simon Mayo said: “There was a spark in the studio when she was there and I think everyone is very devastated that she has gone. She was very intelligent, she was very sharp and very charismatic and that huge warmth is what listeners and viewers will take away.”

Dianne Oxberry was BBC North West Tonight's weather presenter for more than 20 years. (Image: BBC)

Her husband said that she was an “amazing wife and mother who embraced life to the full”.

Ian added: “She was an inspiration to all who knew and loved her but also to the people who watched and welcomed her into their homes each night as if she were part of their family too.

"She will leave a massive void in our lives but because of the remarkable person she was she will forever live on in our hearts.”

In the weeks following her death, Ian and Dianne’s close friends launched the Dianne Oxberry Trust to raise awareness about the critical signs that could potentially save lives.

Despite experiencing mild abdominal discomfort and tiredness, Dianne's symptoms were minimal.

Ovarian cancer is known as a silent killer because its symptoms are often obscure and can be mistaken for other conditions.

According to the NHS, the main symptoms of ovarian cancer include frequently (around 12 or more times a month) experiencing:

• A swollen tummy or feeling bloated
• Pain or tenderness in your tummy or pelvis
• No appetite
• Needing to pee more often

Other symptoms can include indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea, back pain, tiredness, unexplained weight loss and vaginal bleeding after the menopause.

The health service emphasises that while these symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions, it's still important to get them checked by a GP.