Joan Bakewell, 90, reveals she feels ‘serene’ about dying amid her battle with cancer 

Dame Joan Bakewell has revealed she felt ‘serene’ about the prospect of dying amidst her battle with colon cancer.

The leading broadcaster, who turned 90 on Sunday, is undergoing chemotherapy and has had surgery for it Christmas after her cancer was discovered during a routine checkup.

Speak against The mirror the Labor colleague said: “When you are my age, many of your friends have already died, dying is on the agenda, it is waiting for you.”

“I thought, ‘Oh, it’s my turn. My turn to go down.” So I felt very serene about it.”

Before adding with a laugh, “At my age, many people you knew have passed away. So I thought, “If they can do it, so can I”.

Speaking her truth: Labor colleague said ‘When you are my age many of your friends have already died, dying is on the agenda, it is waiting for you’ (pictured in 1976)

She went on to say she “didn’t feel her age” and revealed she had postponed her planned 90th birthday party until later in the year, when she had completed chemo.

Joan revealed she was diagnosed in January and said, “I recovered from that (surgery). I feel fine and the chemotherapy is a clearing operation to make sure it doesn’t come back.’

The English journalist and TV presenter, who has spoken touchingly in the past about how powerless she felt when her sister died of breast cancer aged 58, said she is positive about her prognosis.

“I’ve always been optimistic because I got this cancer early on and within a week I was in the hospital for surgery,” she said.

She has continued to work during her health struggle, including on a new series Landscape Artist of the Year.

In all, she only canceled one voiceover session during her recovery period.

Dubbed the thinking man’s “crump” by humorist Frank Muir, Baroness Bakewell inspired Harold Pinter’s Betrayal after she had an affair with the playwright when she was married to TV producer Michael Bakewell. Pinter was married to actress Vivien Merchant.

“I went to the House of Lords this week so I was able to do everything I had to do,” said the Labor colleague.

Fighting fit: She went on to say she ‘didn’t feel her age’ and revealed she had postponed her 90th birthday party until she completed her chemo

Baroness Bakewell has had a long and illustrious career in the British media. She first started out as a studio manager for BBC Radio and went on to present several programs in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s.

Affair: Joan inspired Harold Pinter’s Betrayal after she had an affair with the playwright when she was married to TV producer Michael Bakewell. Pinter was married to actress Vivien Merchant (Joan and Harold pictured together in 1969)

“I’m supposed to have chemotherapy once every two weeks, but I’m still off and was at the ballet the other day.

‘I don’t get involved as much as possible, but of course I do what I’m told. You just have to get on with life.’

She adds that her work as a patron of Breast Cancer Care has served her well.

“I know and talk to people who have had repeated cancers and things like that, and I know what it means to keep the spirits up and continue with the treatments they’ve been offered.

“And of course I was able to learn that treatments have improved so much and that cancer is no longer a death sentence — that’s why we have to catch it early and do whatever tests come up and pass.”

She adds, “In a way it has made me optimistic, which sounds strange.”

Baroness Bakewell has had a long and illustrious career in the British media. She first started out as a studio manager for BBC Radio and went on to present several programs in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s.

She is also a published author and was granted a lifetime peerage in January 2011.