Tributes as former XFM and Key 103 radio presenter Michelle Mullane dies

Businesswoman and broadcaster Michelle, from Alderley Edge, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in June last year after being rushed to hospital with severe stomach pains.

Earlier this year she backed a campaign to help Cancer Research UK during the coronavirus pandemic - as fundraising events were cancelled across the country.

Michelle, who was also a regular on BBC Radio Manchester, died on Christmas Eve.

Michelle and her daughter at Alderley Edge

Comedian Jason Manford said: "Just found out my dear friend and ex-BBC Manchester presenter Michelle Mullane sadly passed away on Christmas Eve.

"I have so many fond memories of Michelle from when I was starting out in stand up in the late 90s.

"Michelle was the first person to get me on the airwaves and we spent many an evening laughing, flirting & joking over brews; on air and off.

"We drank millions of cups of tea and her show ‘Michelle around Midnight’ was one of the only shows you could get on, get paid and just be yourself without having to be a big ‘tv name’.

"She was an incredible supporter of new talent and gave a leg up to so many of us northern comedians at a time where it felt like if you weren’t in London, you didn’t stand a chance. She has supported me and many others ever since.

"She will be dearly missed by so many people, not least her young daughter Liv.

"She only messaged me the other week to congratulate me on Royal Variety and to say how proud she was of me.

"For over a year we’ve been trying to organise a charity gig - postponed due to covid - in aid of Kidney Cancer UK & Bowel Cancer Research.

"The second we are able to, I will 100% make sure this happens in your name Michelle."

Michelle at The Christie

Speaking earlier this year about her diagnosis in 2019, Michelle said: “I never in a million years thought I’d have cancer; it was the furthest thing from my mind.

“Looking back now, I’d been feeling unusually tired and experiencing some cramping for a few months, but I put that down to living a busy life.

“Then one night I was throwing up for hours and experiencing the most excruciating pain in my stomach. The pain was worse than anything I’d ever experienced.

“It got to midnight and I called an ambulance. I couldn’t stand up and would have gone to hospital naked, I was beyond caring at that point.”

Michelle was rushed to Macclesfield Hospital, where doctors discovered a life-threatening obstruction on her bowel.

She said: “The room filled up with people and that’s when the doctors told me I had incurable bowel cancer.

“That moment changed my life. They said I’d have six months to live without treatment.”

You can donate to Cancer Research UK here.