Key Highlights
- Nadia Sawalha pays emotional tribute to her friend Hannah Gardner on Loose Women.
- Hannah Gardner, 39, passed away after a long battle with breast cancer in December 2025.
- The pair met during a charity trek for Coppafeel and became close friends.
- Nadia highlights Hannah’s bravery and selflessness in her tribute.
Loose Women Star Nadia Sawalha Pays Emotional Tribute to Late Friend
On the latest episode of Loose Women, TV presenter Nadia Sawalha shared an emotional tribute to her late friend Hannah Gardner, who passed away in December 2025 after a long battle with breast cancer. The heartfelt moment saw Sawalha fighting back tears as she reminisced about their bond and paid homage to the “brave and selfless” Gardner.
Meeting on a Charity Trek
The pair first met during a charity trek for Coppafeel, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for breast cancer. Sawalha recalled how they both faced fears of heights while scaling the Himalayas, but quickly formed a deep connection. “We bonded quite quickly,” she said, adding that their friendship was built on mutual support and understanding.
Bravery and Selflessness
In her emotional address to the audience, Sawalha paid tribute to Hannah’s bravery in facing her illness head-on. “She was so beautiful, and so kind – and I know people say a lot about bravery, she said, ‘None of you ever say I was brave, please,'” Sawalha began, before continuing with, “I’m going to.” She highlighted how Hannah always put others first, often thinking of their well-being over her own. “She died on December 27, but her friend Sarah said, ‘Isn’t that just so Hannah? She wasn’t going on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, because she was thinking of everybody and their day.'”
Advocacy for Cancer Treatment
The TV personality also addressed the fact that a pioneering cancer drug, Enhertu, had not been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) despite its potential to save lives. “She was so proud of coming on this show and thanks for the support that everyone gave her,” Sawalha said, referring to Hannah’s appearance on Loose Women to speak about their campaign for access to Enhertu. The drug is a targeted cancer medication used to shrink tumours and delay the progression of disease.
During an earlier interview with MailOnline, Nadia had spoken about the potential life-changing impact that Enhertu could have had on Hannah’s condition. “We’ve got this young woman, with a young autistic child, with secondary breast cancer in her liver, in her lung,” she said, adding that it would give Hannah another six months of life if approved.
Nadia concluded by sharing a picture of Hannah wearing a sparkly dress sitting on a swing. “Rest in peace now darling… Although we knew it was coming we are all so deeply shocked and distraught,” she wrote, expressing her love for Hannah. “You were and will forever be deeply loved.”
