BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire bravely removes chemo wig on live TV following breast cancer battle

BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire bravely removed her wig yesterday following the end of her breast cancer treatment.

The 48-year-old said that losing her hair had been one of the most upsetting aspects of tackling the disease.

Posting a video showing her hair growing back underneath the wig, she revealed on a Facebook video that she had lost three-quarters of it while undergoing chemotherapy.

She said: “I have to say losing my hair was the worst bit about cancer treatment for me, more so than having a mastectomy. Don’t judge me for that, it’s just the way I felt.

“I’m grateful for this wig because it helped me get on with things, go to work, live my life normally without worrying. But it is time for it to go.

“And this is my new hair, this is about 12 months of growth since chemo finished. And it’s come back as thick as it was, if not thicker. As shiny as it was, slightly more ringlety than it was before.”

The former BBC Radio 5 Live presenter, who has a current affairs show on BBC2, added: “I am actually apprehensive about taking my wig off because this is not me, but I know it doesn’t really matter what my hair looks like.

“The point is, this is proof ... that once chemo is complete your hair does grow back and when you’re in some of those dark moments during chemo you do doubt that.... but your body does slowly renew itself once chemo is complete and there’s something really optimistic about that.’

Victoria was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2015.

Just hours after her mastectomy operation in October 2015, she recorded a video from her hospital bed to show the side of her removed right breast.

She later revealed she had started wearing a wig after starting to lose her hair as a result of the treatment in January last year.

Victoria marked her final chemotherapy session with an emotional video in December, saying: “I’m home and I’m happy and I can’t stop crying which is mad”.

“I think it might be six months of tears just coming out in one go.”