ALI Lewis will tonight sit with family and friends to watch the film of her wedding day.

But the 23-year-old can be sure that she will not be the only one who will be watching in tears.

For the remarkable story of her love affair with Alex Lewis, whom she married just five days before his death, is being shown tonight at 9pm on BBC 3, in the documentary Alex: A Life Fast Forward.

Alex, of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, was diagnosed with bone cancer shortly before his 18th birthday.

Ali said: “I have already seen the film twice. I believe it really captures his spirit and how he dealt with his illness, while showing how our relationship grew.”

The couple got to know each other when she went travelling with her university pal Emily Finn, who also happened to be one of Alex’s best friends. Alex flew out to join them in Australia for a month-long holiday.

Ali said: “Emily told me he was one of the most incredible people I would ever meet. When I met him I believed her. The first time I saw him he didn’t look ill at all. There were just some scars on his chest.”

But friendship turned to love only when they returned home and she met Alex at a party in Swansea. “I remember thinking he just looked so handsome. He kissed me at the bar and we were inseparable from that moment.”

Alex, who had been a pupil at St Birinus School in Didcot and later Wallingford School, travelled up to her home town of Birmingham to propose.

Ali said: “I was 100 per cent sure, but I was realistic about it. I knew that it would end in heartache.

“But during our time together we didn’t talk about his illness very often. We remained hopeful. Nobody knew how long Alex would be with us.”

The couple planned to marry in the village church in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell in May. But when Alex became ill, the wedding had to be brought forward to Alex’s 22nd birthday in February.

Ali said: “The happiest part of the day was walking out of the church with him.

“He was in a wheel chair and he needed oxygen. But he still managed to say his vows. Our wedding day was to be the last time that many of his friends saw him.”