Two years after the world lost the vibrant and fearless cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James, her husband Sebastien Bowen may finally be finding a new rhythm in life.
Recently, he was seen holding hands with a woman during a sunny riverside walk in west London—offering a quiet, touching glimpse into how life slowly moves forward after loss.
Spotted by the Thames
Sebastien, 45, was photographed walking alongside a striking woman in a red dress and sunglasses.
The two appeared completely relaxed and in sync as they strolled down the towpath by the River Thames, just after enjoying a long lunch at the chic River Cafe in Hammersmith.
The woman, thought to be in her 30s, looked at him with warmth and affection.
A passer-by who saw them said, “They looked like they were very much in love.
It was very sweet. Knowing Dame Deborah’s story, it was genuinely heartwarming to see her husband smile again.”
A Wish Deborah Shared Before Her Goodbye
Before she passed away in June 2022 at the age of just 40, Deborah was open with her husband about what she hoped his life would look like after she was gone.
Known for her honesty and humour even in the most difficult moments, she had encouraged Sebastien to find happiness again.
“I want him to move on,” she once said. “He’s a handsome man.
I told him—don’t marry a bimbo, and find someone who can make you laugh like we did.”
She even joked that there were certain women she wouldn’t approve of, adding playfully that if he dated any of them, “I’d haunt him.”
Taking Small Steps Forward
Last year, it was revealed that Sebastien had quietly started dating again.
Friends noted he was treading carefully, still healing from the loss of a woman he had shared so much with.
“Deborah is a hard act to follow,” one source close to him said. “They had a beautiful marriage.
But Seb feels the time is right to move forward—just as Deborah wanted him to.”
A Marriage That Inspired Many
Sebastien and Deborah met in 2005 and tied the knot three years later.
They built a life together and raised two children, all while Deborah became a powerful voice for cancer awareness.
As “Bowelbabe,” she courageously shared her journey with bowel cancer on social media and through the BBC podcast You, Me and the Big C.
In the process, she raised over £11 million for cancer research and touched lives far beyond her immediate circle.
Her frankness and optimism in the face of adversity made her beloved by many.
With Her Family’s Blessing
Even Deborah’s mother, Heather, spoke kindly of Sebastien possibly finding love again.
In a 2023 interview, she acknowledged the special bond he shared with Deborah but gave her full support: “Deborah will be a hard act to follow, but he has our blessing.”
Sebastien, who works in private equity, seems to be quietly navigating this new chapter—honouring his past while making room for the future.