Lisa Faulkner has shared a deeply emotional tribute to her husband John Torode, revealing just how much his love and support have meant to her during one of the most challenging years of their lives.

The actress and TV cook marked John’s 61st birthday with a touching social media message, describing him as her “best friend” and admitting she could not have imagined getting through the difficult months surrounding her breast cancer diagnosis without him by her side.

“What a year it’s been,” Lisa wrote, reflecting on a period that has brought fear, uncertainty and major changes for the couple.

But amid everything they have faced, one thing appears to have remained constant: they have faced it together.

“We held each other’s hands and I couldn’t have got through these past few months without you by my side,” Lisa told her husband in the heartfelt birthday message.

The deeply personal words offered fans a glimpse into the strength of their marriage following Lisa’s revelation earlier this month that she had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

“You make my heart thump”

Lisa shared the tribute alongside a sweet selfie of herself and John smiling together in matching white T-shirts.

Rather than focusing solely on his birthday, her message quickly became an emotional celebration of the man who has stood beside her through an extraordinarily difficult chapter.

“Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband,” she began. “I hope you have the best day my best friend.”

She then reflected on everything they have endured together.

“What a year it’s been but we held each other’s hands and I couldn’t have got through these past few months without you by my side.”

Lisa went on to describe John as “the kindest man with the gentlest biggest heart,” before adding a beautifully simple declaration of love: “You make my heart thump.”

She finished by looking forward not to a lavish celebration, but to something far more intimate — sharing a birthday coffee together in their special spot in the garden.

“I love you my Johno,” she wrote.

It was a quiet detail that seemed to say everything about their relationship: after a year filled with difficult news, the simplest moments together have perhaps become more precious than ever.

A difficult year following Lisa’s cancer diagnosis

Lisa’s emotional words carry particular significance following her recent revelation that she had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

The diagnosis came after doctors discovered the disease during medical investigations, leading Lisa to undergo surgery.

When she publicly shared the news, she also revealed that she would require radiotherapy as part of the next stage of her treatment.

For fans who have followed Lisa’s career and family life over the years, the announcement came as a shock.

Yet her latest message suggests that behind the scenes, John has been a constant source of strength throughout the uncertainty.

Her words — “I couldn’t have got through these past few months without you” — offered a rare and deeply personal insight into what the couple have experienced away from the cameras.

While Lisa has spoken publicly about her diagnosis, much of the emotional reality of facing cancer inevitably happens privately: hospital appointments, waiting for results, recovery from surgery and the uncertainty surrounding treatment.

Through it all, her birthday tribute made clear that she and John have been navigating the journey side by side.

John’s touching five-word response

John’s response to his wife’s emotional tribute was brief but powerful.

Appearing in the comments beneath Lisa’s post, he wrote simply:

“And I love and adore you.”

The affectionate reply quickly added another emotional layer to the exchange, with followers praising the couple’s bond and wishing them happiness and good health for the future.

One supporter described their “shared love” as the greatest birthday gift, while another praised them as a “genuine couple” and wished Lisa well following her health battle.

Others sent birthday wishes to John while sharing messages of support for Lisa as she continues her recovery and treatment.

For many fans, the exchange between the couple was particularly moving because it came after such an intense period in their lives.

A love story built over years

Lisa and John’s relationship has long been familiar to British television audiences.

The pair first became close after Lisa appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, eventually developing a relationship away from the cameras.

They married in 2019 at Aynhoe Park in Oxfordshire, surrounded by family and friends.

Since then, they have frequently shared glimpses of their life together — from cooking and television projects to quieter moments at home.

Their blended family is also an important part of their story.

Lisa adopted her daughter Billie when she was 17 months old, while John is a father to four children from previous relationships.

Over the years, Lisa has spoken warmly about family life, while she and John have often appeared to share a partnership built around food, humour and companionship.

But her latest tribute revealed another side of their marriage — the strength of their bond when life becomes frightening and uncertain.

“We held each other’s hands”

Perhaps the most powerful line in Lisa’s message was also the simplest.

“We held each other’s hands.”

It captured the emotional heart of her tribute.

There was no dramatic declaration about overcoming every obstacle or pretending the past year had been easy.

Instead, Lisa described something far more human: two people staying beside each other through a difficult time.

For anyone who has experienced a serious health diagnosis — personally or alongside someone they love — those words may carry particular meaning.

Cancer can suddenly divide life into a “before” and “after,” bringing medical appointments, treatment decisions and uncertainty into everyday routines.

Lisa’s message suggested that John’s presence throughout those moments has been invaluable.

Her tribute was ostensibly written to celebrate his birthday, but it also became a public thank-you to the person who has helped her navigate one of the most frightening periods of her life.

Looking ahead together

Lisa has previously explained that her cancer was detected at an early stage and that she had undergone surgery before publicly revealing her diagnosis.

Radiotherapy was expected to form part of her continuing treatment plan.

Against that backdrop, her latest post carried a sense not only of reflection, but also gratitude and hope.

Rather than dwelling entirely on what the couple have endured, Lisa looked forward to something beautifully ordinary: sitting in their garden and sharing coffee with her husband on his birthday.

After months shaped by medical uncertainty, perhaps that ordinary moment represents something much bigger.

A chance to sit together.

A chance to celebrate.

And a chance to appreciate another day side by side.

For John’s 61st birthday, Lisa could have written simply about his achievements, their marriage or the celebrations ahead.

Instead, she chose to tell him — and the world — what his presence has meant during a year neither of them could have expected.

“What a year it’s been,” she wrote.

But through it all, they held each other’s hands.

And sometimes, that says more about a marriage than anything else could.