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The sister of the terminally ill brain cancer sufferer who inspired comedian Peter Kay to return to the stage admitted it's 'bizarre' that the person she loves most in the world 'might not be there at some point' but insisted 'laughter is the best medicine'.

Laura Nuttall, 21, from Lancashire was diagnosed with glioblastoma - the most aggressive brain cancer in adults - following a routine eye test in October 2018.

Then 18, she was given 18 months to live. Laura has been receiving experimental treatment in Germany, and continues to defy doctors' expectations.

Having seen the story of Laura's cancer battle on BBC North West, Kay - who worked with Laura's storyboard artist father on his hit show Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere - performed a double bill of sold-out charity gigs at the O2 Apollo Manchester last weekend in her honour, which he called 'two very special live Q&A's'.

Gracie Nuttall, sister of terminally ill brain cancer sufferer Laura who inspired comedian Peter Kay to return to the stage, admitted it's 'bizarre' that the person she loves most in the world 'might not be there at some point' but insisted 'laughter is the best medicine'

Laura, 21, from Lancashire (left with Gracie) was diagnosed with glioblastoma - the most aggressive brain cancer in adults - following a routine eye test in October 2018

Kay has been largely out of the spotlight since a surprise appearance at a charity screening of his series Car Share in 2018, but made a brief return in January 2021 when he appeared on BBC Radio 2 to chat to Cat Deeley about his love of music, mix tapes and the musical Mamma Mia. He cancelled his last tour in December 2017, citing 'unforeseen family circumstances'.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast this morning, Laura said it was an 'honour' that the Bolton-born comic chose her to dedicate his first comeback performance to. 

Asked how the family has been coping since Laura's diagnosis, her sister Gracie said: 'It's been really hard, it's kind of a bizarre concept still that the person you love the most in the whole world might not be there at some point, but we just... laughter's the best medicine and you've just got to keep going and push through it really.'

Gracie appeared as Kay's 'warm-up act' to introduce the audience to Laura's story, which she admitted was 'very scary'. 

Kay (pictured on stage during his gig in Laura's honour at the weekend) has been largely out of the spotlight since a surprise appearance at a charity screening of his series Car Share in 201

Having seen the story of Laura's cancer battle on BBC North West, Kay - who worked with Laura's storyboard artist father on his hit show Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere - performed a double bill of sold-out charity gigs at the O2 Apollo Manchester this weekend in her honour, which he called 'two very special live Q&A's' (pictured: Laura in hospital with Gracie)

'I've never been as scared in my life, I've never done anything like that before,' she told hosts Louise Minchin and John Kay.

'It went really well, everyone was really supportive and it was an amazing crowd, but terrifying to do. There's no one else I would have done it for.

'I just wanted them to know - because a lot of them wouldn't have any idea who Laura was - I wanted them to have a brief knowledge of everything that she's been through, and then just talk about how much she means to us and how much it was a big shock and it could happen to anybody. We're just a normal family and it's terrifying to think that it's everybody who's at risk of it.' 

She added that Kay's performance was 'the funniest thing ever', recalling: 'He makes your sides hurt, honestly, we watched it twice and you're actually in pain afterwards because you're laughing that much.

'He's like that just normally, that's just his personality, everything is funny, he's just the nicest guy to be around.'

Speaking about the moment her father received a phone call from the comedian asking what he could do to help, she said the family was stunned, admitting: 'You don't expect that do you?' Pictured with her mum Nicola and dad Mark

Gracie appeared as Kay's 'warm-up act' to introduce the audience to Laura's story, which she admitted was 'very scary'

Laura added: 'He can make anything funny, he's just got that natural talent, it's just amazing to be around him.'

Speaking about the moment her father received a phone call from the comedian asking what he could do to help, she said the family was stunned, admitting: 'You don't expect that do you? 

'It happened so fast as well, we wanted him to pop his head through when we were doing this ball my mum's organised, but he said "no, I'm going to ring the Apollo and see if they are free for me". That was like two weeks ago, something ridiculous like that.

'I feel really honoured that he chose me to dedicate this first comeback performance to.'

She previously revealed the Car Share star took the family out to dinner and had them in tears of laughter as he tried to order some garlic bread - a nod to his joke voted the funniest gag in stand-up history. 

Laura revealed she got a regrowth of her tumour in March, which doctors removed, but the treatment she's now having is 'costing quite a bit', which is why they've ramped up their fundraising efforts and Kay 'stepped up to help us'.  

Laura, who achieved straight As in her A-Levels, was just weeks into an international relations degree at King's College University in London when she began to experience occasional headaches and nausea.

Laura revealed she got a regrowth of her tumour in March, which doctors removed, but the treatment she's now having is 'costing quite a bit', which is why they've ramped up their fundraising efforts and Kay 'stepped up to help us' (pictured with Gracie and BBC Breakfast hosts Louise Minchin and John Kay)

She initially put her symptoms down to 'fresher's flu' but when she applied to join the Royal Navy reserves, the eye test required for entry revealed unexplained swelling in her optic nerve.

Laura was referred to Moorfields Eye Hospital, where doctors recommended further tests. But the following day, after she was violently sick, she called mum Nicola to ask for help.

Nicola and her younger daughter Grace raced to London and took Laura straight to A&E that night. 

A 3am CT scan at Homerton Hospital in Hackney revealed the devastating news that she had two brain tumours. The following morning, a more detailed MRI scan of Laura's brain identified several more.

After an operation to remove the largest and most life-threatening growth on November 7, 2018 at Salford Royal Hospital, Laura and her family were told she had glioblastoma – the type which took the life of former Labour cabinet minister Tessa Jowell.

Laura, who achieved straight As in her A-Levels, was just weeks into an international relations degree at King's College University in London when she began to experience occasional headaches and nausea. Pictured (right) with her parents Nicola and Mark (centre) and sister Gracie (left)

Laura's family has been fundraising in order to raise money for the potentially life saving immunotherapy treatment she is having in Cologne, Germany (right, Laura with dad Mark)

Laura told BBC Breakfast: 'When I was 18 I was told I was going to live for possibly another 18 months. When you get told that sort of news when you're that young, you resort to things like positivity and laughter because sometimes that's all you've really got.' 

Laura underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchester throughout December in an attempt to keep the remaining tumours at bay.

Since then her family has been fundraising in order to raise money for the potentially life saving immunotherapy treatment she is having in Cologne, Germany. 

Speaking about her family's incredible support, Laura said: 'From day one [mum] was on it trying to find things I could take that might improve my chances or places I could go to get different sorts of therapy - that's why I have to go to Germany to get treatment that's not available in the UK. I couldn't have done this without my family.' 

After she was diagnosed Laura created a 'bucket list' of activities she wanted to complete and so far she has piloted HMS Charger, driven a supercar around Silverstone and visited the Churchill War Rooms.

Laura established a bucket list after her diagnosis and has got to meet a series of stars, including actress Gillian Anderson (centre)

Everton fan Laura got to meet the team and is pictured with England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford

She went to LGV driving school Ben Shaw Training in Burnley with her parents to drive a DAF truck and a bus around the practice yard.

Other items on her bucket list include viewing The Scream painted by artist Edvard Munch, crossing the equator and visiting the Heinz Factory in Wigan.

And more recently she ticked another item off her bucket list when she got to drive a pink digger.

That experience was provided by Cumbria based company Waitings whose own director, Victoria Waiting, died in 2016 aged 44, with the same tumour Laura is fighting.

Laura also got to visit Wembley and see England's defeat against Italy in the Euro 2020 final after being given free tickets. 

Laura has also been invited to model for a fashion show at Manchester Airport later this year, staged by cancer support group Maggie's Centres.

Laura underwent radiotherapy after surgery, along with chemotherapy. She is now receiving further treatment in Germany

Laura with BBC's Fiona Bruce - another of the stars she has met in recent years. She is also looking forward later this year to having afternoon tea at HMP Styal jail

Peter Kay's two new shows were held in aid of Laura (pictured). Tickets sold out in 30 minutes when they went on sale on July 30

She is also looking forward later this year to having afternoon tea at HMP Styal jail. Laura will be served at the Clink restaurant by prisoners in training who are working towards gaining their City Guilds NVQs in food and beverage service, professional cookery and food hygiene.

Laura has just completed the second year of her degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Manchester University. 

Tickets for Kay's comeback show sold out in 30 minutes when they went on sale on July 30.

One fan was invited up on stage for Kay to call her mother, who was unable to attend the show as she was unwell.

He told her: 'I've not done a show for four years but I've had a good laugh.'

Kay received another standing ovation as the show finished, an hour later than scheduled just before 6pm.

He said: 'It's been lovely. Thank you for coming to support Laura and her family and thank you for coming to see me.'

Gina Almond, The Brain Tumour Charity's director of fundraising and marketing, said: 'We are absolutely delighted for Laura that Peter Kay has shown such kindness in putting on these shows to help fund her glioblastoma treatment abroad.

'Laura is one of our inspirational Young Ambassadors who help us to raise awareness about brain tumours so we can improve early diagnosis and find new treatments faster – and we are hugely grateful for the family's ongoing support for us despite everything they are going through.

'Brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40 in the UK. Glioblastomas in particular are the most common and most aggressive form of brain tumour in adults, accounting for around 2,200 cases in England each year.

'With treatment options remaining limited, and average survival being around 12-18 months from diagnosis, we urgently need to find new treatments to help give those affected by a glioblastoma more time to live. A cure can't wait.'

Read more about Laura Nuttall's story on the Doing It For Laura website, or visit her GoFundMe page to donate towards her £80,000 goal.