Sarah Beeny opens up on how she navigated ‘bumps’ in her 22-year marriage to husband Graham Swift during devastating cancer battle

Sarah Beeny has opened up about how she dealt with ‘bumps’ in her 22-year marriage to husband Graham Swift during her devastating battle with cancer.

The TV star, 52, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2022 and underwent grueling chemotherapy, as well as a double mastectomy.

During the process, Sarah was supported by artist husband Graham, 51, and their four sons, but admitted in a new interview that things weren’t all plain sailing.

The Property Ladder presenter told how Graham had been her rock during her ill health and ‘stepped up’ when needed, but without going too far with his help.

She told me OK! magazine: ‘There are bumps in life and in marriage – it’s not all smooth sailing. But during my cancer treatment, Graham was exactly what I expected: great, because he is a good man.

‘I don’t have a man who comes in with tea leaves, I don’t have a butler! But I don’t want one, that would be annoying. Every time he needed to go the extra mile, he did, and that was one of those moments.”

The star went on to say that she encouraged her partner to open up to others when he himself was struggling with everything that was happening, as she confessed that she had “no room” for her husband to not be strong.

She said: ‘We had a conversation once. I said, “I know things may not always go well for you, but please don’t talk to me about that. Can you talk to my brother or someone else?” And he said, “Yes, I know.” I think he talked to my brother and some friends. He knew I had no room for him to not be okay.”

During the conversation, Sarah reflected on the past five years when she and her family moved from East Yorkshire to a sprawling estate in Somerset, where they built and renovated their country home.

In the midst of the build-up, Sarah was diagnosed with cancer, and in recent years she also saw the broadcaster continue her television work and also embark on a four-month tour with her musician sons’ group – The Entitled Sons.

Sarah and Graham share boys Billy, 20, Charlie, 18, Laurie, 16, and Rafferty, 15.

Last year, Sarah documented her health struggles in her documentary Sarah Beeny vs Cancer.

And while she spoke candidly about her decision to share her journey publicly, Sarah said she had no regrets, feeling that being so open made her loved ones feel less “scared” if they were “in the know.” of what was going on.

She added that although she felt “scared” at the time, she now considers her trip “a lifetime ago,” sharing that she felt “lucky” to be such a “mover.”

It comes after Sarah previously revealed why she and her husband Graham still haven’t officially said ‘I love you’ to each other.

The broadcaster was lucky enough to find the icing on the cake when she was very young and started dating artist Graham when they were just teenagers.

Sarah first revealed that she and Graham had never spoken the three words last October, but gave insight into why they haven’t changed their ways.

She admitted that saying “I love you” became something of an “inside joke” for the high school lovebirds, who would ridicule friends who said it — and break up soon after.

In March she told Prima magazine: ‘I married my best friend. I don’t know what our secret is, but I think it helps to have a touch of child in you.’

‘I met Graham when I was 19 and he was 18. We always laughed about friends saying ‘I love you’ after one date and dumping them the next day, so if we didn’t say it it became an inside joke.’

“To this day, we’ve never officially said it,” she admitted.

The mocking approach became standard routine to the point that whenever Graham makes a mistake, the real estate expert appears to hilariously stop him.

She continued; “I once said to Graham, ‘Even if you had no money or never got a job, I would still love you. I had to come back and explain that it was just a phrase.”

“Every time Graham made a mistake and said it, I said, ‘That’s a bit gross, can’t you say that again?’

In April, Sarah was given the all-clear following her breast cancer diagnosis in August 2022.

During an appearance on Lorraine in December 2023, Sarah opened up about how her cancer diagnosis affected her marriage, but in a way that has put them in a stronger position.

She said: ‘I’m not going to say it’s easy because obviously it’s not easy, but I think I’m lucky to have a husband and children who are so supportive.’

The Property Ladder star also released her documentary Sarah Beeny vs. Cancer, which detailed her cancer journey, including her double mastectomy.

In addition to his art, Graham has worked with Sarah on projects including the dating app MySingleFriend, which they founded in 2004 after Sarah became infamous for setting up her single friends on dates.

The real estate expert also released her memoir The Simple Life: How I Found Home last year, but then opened up about how she wanted to put her health issues behind her because she wasn’t willing to let her cancer become the “defining thing in her life.”