BBC Making Second Doc On Inspirational Breast Cancer Campaigner Kris Hallenga

EXCLUSIVE: The BBC is returning to the story of Kris Hallenga, the inspirational breast cancer campaigner who lived with stage four cancer for 15 years, with a documentary celebrating her life and death.

Hallenga was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and died in May 2024. During that time she defied convention about how to live and die, becoming an inspiration for millions and building the fastest-growing charity in Europe, CoppaFeel!, with sister Maren Hallenga.

Having 10 years ago been behind Kris: Dying to Live, which followed the growth of her charity, the BBC and producer October Films are now making Living Every Second: The Kris Hallenga Story (w/t), which will air next month.

The doc will reveal the fullest story of Hallenga’s approach to life and death. It includes family archive of her and her sister’s childhoods from the moment of their births, diary footage and celebratory scenes filmed by director Neil Bonner over the past 10 years including the final weeks of her life.

Clare Sillery, Head of Commissioning, BBC Documentaries, said: “Kris was a hugely inspirational woman who had a great impact on the many people who live with cancer by helping to raise awareness, and the importance of being checked early. I would like to say a huge thanks to Kris’s family for entrusting us to now tell this chapter of her story.” 

Bonner added that the one-off is an “intimate and celebratory film exploring Kris’s irrepressible spirit as she confronts mortality in her own unique way.”

The doc is directed and produced by Bonner, with EPs Claire Hughes, Adam Bullmore and Matt Robins. It was commissioned by Sillery and the Commissioning Editor is Tom Pullen.