This Morning star Dr Nighat Arif has revealed how NOBODY turned up for the launch of her book, as even her own family failed to show for the event.
The resident health expert for the ITV show took to her social media to reveal that only two books were bought on the day, including from the book store owner who she praised as ‘cheering her on’ despite the disappointment.
Dr Nighat, 42, who has been appearing on This Morning since 2019 to share health advice, insisted she was ‘not upset’ by the event in Chesham, and instead found it ‘humbling’.
In a video filmed in her car, she told her fans: ‘You realise in that moment that no-one is coming. Yes, no-one came to my first book signing since my book launch that happened over a week ago.
‘Not even my family showed up but, do you know what? I’m not going to blame them. Everyone’s got their lives to live and it’s OK.
This Morning star Dr Nighat Arif has revealed how NOBODY turning up for the launch of her book, as even her own family failed to show for the event
The resident health expert for the ITV show took to her social media to reveal that only two books were bought on the day
‘I’m actually not upset, it was just me and a pile of books… shout out to Martin from Pure Body Fix who popped in from across the street to introduce himself to me.
‘Bless him, he was so kind, and he actually got roped in to buying a book, he might not have wanted one so I’m really sorry if I forced you to get one…
‘Mark, the bookstore owner, he bought another and cheered me on from the sidelines like a proud friend that he is, he’s incredible.
‘But that was me, two books sold today, and a whole lot for my heart to process.
‘As I walked off and went about my day, I stopped to pick up some groceries and it’s then that it hit me, this isn’t failure at all.
‘We post our highlights on social media all the time thinking when we do launches there’s going to be queues of people, and our kids think success just means that there are a lot of audiences, followers and likes we get on all our posts.
‘We have this false sense of security when actually, that’s not the real world at all.
‘I came home and I told my 15-year-old son that no-one came to my book signing or anyone that had intended to come, and he tried to cheer me up and I reassured him that I didn’t need cheering up at all.
‘The book signing, honestly, it was perfect as it was and having no-one attend is not a failure, so I took the time to have some downtime in the store, chat with the staff, sign some of the existing stock that they had, and worked on my next project.
‘Even though my face is on the cover of all of my books, and then at me, and she goes to me: “Where is the children’s [section]?” and I gave her my friendliest smile, obliged and pointed to her to where the children’s books are in the book shop.
Dr Nighat, 42, who has been appearing on This Morning since 2019 to share health advice, insisted she was ‘not upset’ by the event in Chesham, and instead found it ‘humbling’
‘It was the most grounding and humbling experience, not shameful at all.
‘If you’ve ever poured your heart into something and no-one shows up for you, you’re not alone, honestly, it’s part of the journey and it’s not a proof that you shouldn’t be on it. No-one came today, but that’s alright.’
Dr Nighat went on to caption the video: ‘No one came to my book signing. Just me, my book and a silence that taught me more about success than applause ever did.
‘Success sometimes isn’t loud – so make sure YOU show up for yourself. Don’t doubt your purpose.’
Fans flooded the comments section of the video with support for Dr Nighat, with one writing: ‘How many people get to sign their own book ? You’ve already won big!’
As another chimed in: ‘I applaud you for showing the struggles because so many of us can relate and this will be deeply healing for people to see.’
A third added: ‘This is so powerful. Thank you for sharing – this is a testament to how incredible you are,’ as a fourth wrote: ‘This is such a positive message and really grounding.’
It comes after a guest on This Morning revealed how watching the show saved her life after Dr Nighat issued a warning about the signs of ovarian cancer.
Dr Nighat Arif was seen on the show in 2023 detailing the seemingly innocuous symptoms of the cancer to viewers as she urged them to get checked if they were displaying any.
Tuning in to watch the show, Debra Lamb noted that bloating was listed among the symptoms list, something she had been experiencing in recent weeks.
She went on to call her GP and after having some tests, was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer – which saved her life, with Debra, 62, noting waiting even a ‘few more weeks’ could have killed her.
Taking to This Morning on Wednesday, Debra was joined by her cousin Sue, 65, and niece Gemma, 35, all of whom tested positive for the BRCA gene, which heightens the risk of breast cancer.
Eight women in Debra’s family were all tested for the gene after it came to light she had the gene during her tests for ovarian cancer – which was prompted by watching the ITV programme.
Dr Nighat Arif (pictured) was seen on the show in 2023 detailing the symptoms of the cancer to viewers as she urged them to get checked if they were displaying any – and saved Debra’s life in the process
Speaking to Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, Debra explained: ‘I was just in my living room watching the telly and I see it come up and I thought, “Oh, my stomach was a bit bloated”.
‘I’m perfectly healthy, never smoked, and I just thought, well it’s bloated but I’ve go to [check]. I called the GP, got an appointment and had the test, and then three or four days later they called me back saying the [markers were] very high.
‘[The markers] should be under 35 and mine was 1,905 – so it was like, this has got to be investigated. Within weeks there were MRIs, ultrasounds, scans, blood tests.
‘And then I was having a nine hour operation to remove all my cancer. It was shocking. It happened so quickly – it was just watching the programme that caught my eye and that was it.’
Detailing her life after the surgery, Debra continued: ‘The surgery was really quite touch and go – a long, major, major surgery. Now, I’m on antibiotics for the rest of my life.’
Coming face to face with ITV’s Dr Nighat, Debra and the health expert struggled to fight back tears as the doctor was showered with praise.
‘I wouldn’t be [here today],’ Debra added. ‘The surgeons said that it was obviously stage four, and they said a few more weeks, it would’ve been too late.’
Since having the surgery on her ovaries, Debra went on to have a check for the BCRA gene, given her mother had passed away from breast cancer in 2018.
Debra Lamb, who was diagnosed with stage-four ovarian cancer after watching the show, met with Dr Nighat during the segment
It wasn’t just Debra who flagged on a positive test, but her cousin Sue and her niece Gemma – with Sue already having early stage breast cancer and Gemma needed preventative surgery.
Giving Debra a hug, the duo appeared emotional and held back tears as Dr Nighat said: ‘I can’t cope – this is why we do the health items on This Morning.
‘It validates all that medical information that we are seeing in our general practices, and I’m so thankful to the This Morning team, the producers, the researchers.
‘This is my bread and butter. I’m doing this all the time, but I can’t really take that credit for any of this because it’s my NHS colleagues, it’s the staff, it’s the oncologist, it’s everybody in the NHS, my team here who put those items together.
‘It really does take a village.’
This Morning weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX
