Ex-Top of the Pops presenter walked away from fame as she shares heartbreaking fear
Sarah Cawood was once one of the most prominent TV hosts of the 90s, and was a key presenter on Top of The Pops. But her life has changed dramatically two decades after her rise to fame.
Sarah's first major break came in the '90s when she worked on children's TV for Nickelodeon. Two years later, she secured a presenting role on Channel 4's The Girlie Show, alongside Sara Cox.
The show, which ran for two series, followed a magazine-style format, featuring interviews, live music, and stunts. The programme aired at the late 'post-pub' slot of 11pm on Fridays, positioning itself as edgier than its competitors and capitalising on the 'ladette' culture that defined the decade. Sarah then joined the revamped Live and Kicking programme for its final two years on air.
(Image: BBC)
Her most significant role came with Top of The Pops. After her tenure ended, she went on to present various mini-series and one-off shows, including co-commentating the Eurovision semi-finals in 2007, 2009, and 2010, reports the Daily Record.
However, around this time, many of the high-profile presenting opportunities began to dwindle. In 2014, Sarah joined Heart East Anglia's breakfast show team for a year before stepping back to focus on caring for her children.
Earlier this year, the star opened up about her health struggles on social media, expressing concerns about her breast cancer returning. She was initially diagnosed in 2022, underwent successful treatment, and was given the all-clear.
(Image: sunday mirror)
She opened up to her followers about the lingering anxiety of cancer returning. In an open Instagram message, she said: "This is the reality of anyone who has had any kind of cancer.
"I never struggled with health anxiety before but post-breast cancer it's all-consuming and it wears me out a bit tbh. I have been feeling tired since the new year began and although it's probably just life-ing, there's always a niggling worry that it's back.
"All I can do is carry on doing healthy things, moving my body, practising mindfulness and living each day with gratitude that I got to breathe again this morning. So on we go! Batting away those intrusive thoughts and getting on with it.
(Image: ITV)
"To anyone either going through a cancer diagnosis or anyone who has recovered from cancer and feels like this: I've got you, and my inbox is always open. And remember, anything that doesn't feel right: get it checked out. Early detection is key."
She also took a moment to reflect on her career in television, saying she'd come to terms with no longer being in the limelight. In another heartfelt post, she remarked: "Do I miss telly? I miss the money! And yes, sometimes I wonder what went wrong, but I'm here now so I'm going to make the most of it, however, that looks".
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