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Alex Jones and Vernon Kay hosted the latest episode of The One Show

Alex Jones shared some “sad” news during the latest instalment of The One Show.

The Welsh presenter was back on the famous green sofa on Wednesday (December 10) to host the BBC One magazine show alongside Vernon Kay.

They welcomed actor Brendan Fraser and astronaut Tim Peake onto the programme to discuss their latest projects.

However, before chatting to the guests, Alex told viewers: “We wanted to take a moment to reflect on today’s very sad news that best-selling author Sophie Kinsella has died.

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“Like millions, I really loved the Shopaholic series and thoughts are very much with her family and friends.”

The Confessions of a Shopaholic writer, whose real name was Madeleine Sophie Wickham, revealed last year she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in 2022.

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Author Sophie Kinsella has passed away following a battle with cancer(Image: BBC)

A statement posted to her Instagram account on Wednesday (December 10) read: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing this morning of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mummy).

“She died peacefully, with her final days filled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy. We can’t imagine what life will be like without her radiance and love of life.

“Despite her illness, which she bore with unimaginable courage, Sophie counted herself truly blessed – to have such wonderful family and friends, and to have had the extraordinary success of her writing career.

“She took nothing for granted and was forever grateful for the love she received. She will be missed so much our hearts are breaking.”

Sophie’s novels have sold more than 45 million copies in more than 60 countries, and have been translated into more than 40 languages. In April 2024, she revealed she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in 2022.

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Alex and Vernon paid tribute to Sophie and sent well wishes to her friends and family(Image: BBC)

In a post on social media, Kinsella said she had been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy at London’s University College Hospital, and had undergone “successful” surgery.

She said she “wanted for a long time to share with you a health update and I’ve been waiting for the strength to do so”.

“At the end of 2022 I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer,” she said.

“I did not share this before because I wanted to make sure that my children were able to hear and process the news in privacy and adapt to our ‘new normal’.

“At the moment all is stable and I am feeling generally very well, though I get very tired and my memory is even worse than it was before!

“I am so grateful to my family and close friends who have been an incredible support to me, and to the wonderful doctors and nurses who have treated me.”

The One Show airs weeknights on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7pm