TV presenter Julia Bradbury has opened up about the impact of her breast cancer diagnosis in 2021 and the changes she has made to her daily wellness routine as a result
Julia Bradbury has candidly discussed the subtle yet meaningful transformations in her daily routine following her breast cancer diagnosis — revealing why she now avoids her partner’s early-morning news habits. The 55-year-old presenter, best known for fronting programmes including Countryfile and Watchdog, has dedicated decades to exploring some of the world’s most remote destinations.
This month saw her make a welcome return to ITV with Julia Bradbury’s Wonders of the Frozen South, maintaining her enduring connection with travel and adventure television.
Yet away from the cameras, Bradbury acknowledges her outlook has undergone a dramatic transformation since receiving her breast cancer diagnosis in 2021. The life-altering news triggered what she characterises as a fundamental re-evaluation of her wellness, everyday habits and lifestyle tempo.
In conversation with The Telegraph, the mother-of-three reveals she now starts each morning with a meticulously planned routine aimed at supporting her wellbeing. “I have a glass of room temperature water or electrolytes — in Ayurvedic medicine, icy cold fluid is not good for digestion and overall health. After that, I do an extended version of my daily morning practice to help raise my cortisol levels gently as melatonin reduces.
“I sit outside on my windowsill — wearing a Dryrobe if it’s raining — to get natural light in my eyes. I observe the trees and birds, do breath work, meditation and a Sanskrit chant that I learnt at the Ananda Ayurvedic resort in India. All these stackable habits revive and energise me,” reports the Express.
The TV host lives in London with property developer Gerard Cunningham and their three children — 14-year-old Zephyr and 10-year-old twins Xanthe and Zena — alongside their puppy, Zeus. Whilst Bradbury cherishes quiet moments at daybreak, she disclosed that her partner’s morning routine is quite different.
“Gerry doesn’t join me. He’s usually snoozing or watching a political TV programme. I don’t want any of that. Knowing what Donald Trump or Keir Starmer is doing can wait until later.”
Her remarks indicate a conscious decision to safeguard her mental wellbeing during the morning hours, especially from the relentless stream of political coverage. Rather than news bulletins, she focuses on daylight, outdoor air and contemplative practices.
Bradbury noted that these routines extend beyond the early morning. Throughout her day, she carves out brief, rejuvenating intervals — something she concedes would have seemed impossible prior to her health challenges.
“At any time of the day, I’ll squeeze in purposeful, mini restoration breaks — two minutes of breathwork, going outside for three minutes or, if I’m stuck indoors, sticking my head out a window for a moment of air and daylight. I never did this before cancer. Back then, I was running at 100mph. Now I’m in tune with myself.”
This shift represents a marked departure from the demanding routine she previously maintained whilst balancing filming work and her responsibilities at home. She now appears focused on building strength through small, achievable habits instead of perpetual motion.
Bradbury has also recently clarified a persistent misunderstanding surrounding her relationship status. For years, numerous sources reported she wed Cunningham in 2000.
Yet she recently revealed to The Mirror that the pair have never formally married.
Speaking exclusively at Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience, she explained: “[He’s my] partner, though according to Wikipedia, we’ve been married for 25 years.”
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