Who Is Hayley McCaughran?
Hayley McCaughran is the funeral director redefining how Britain thinks about death, grief and goodbye. As the founder of Butterflies Rising Funeral Care and the central figure in Channel 4’s acclaimed documentary The Fabulous Funeral Parlour produced by ChatterBox Media, she has become known for her bold, compassionate and deeply personal approach to funeral care. But her story didn’t begin in the funeral industry.
From Beauty Industry to Bereavement Care
Before entering funeral care, Hayley spent two decades working in the beauty industry. It was the death of her mother that profoundly changed the course of her life. Experiencing loss first-hand exposed her to what she felt was a funeral system that often lacked warmth, personality and genuine connection.
Determined to create something different, she retrained and launched Butterflies Rising in Liverpool, building a funeral home centred on individuality, empathy and celebration of life.
The Woman Behind The Fabulous Funeral Parlour
In Channel 4’s The Fabulous Funeral Parlour, Hayley invites viewers into her world, one that challenges traditional expectations of what a funeral “should” look like.
The documentary showcases her work with families who want something more personal than a conventional service. Whether that means colourful coffins, disco-themed farewells, heartfelt humour, or deeply intimate goodbyes, Hayley’s philosophy remains consistent: every life deserves a send-off that reflects who that person truly was.
Far from being irreverent, her approach is rooted in respect. She encourages open conversations about death, normalising grief while helping families find moments of comfort – and sometimes even joy, in the hardest of times.
A Different Kind of Funeral Director
What sets Hayley apart is her refusal to treat funerals as purely sombre occasions. At Butterflies Rising, the environment is intentionally welcoming, more comforting retreat than austere parlour. She often speaks to the deceased gently and naturally, helping families feel that their loved one is still being cared for with dignity and humanity.
Her work demonstrates that laughter and tears can coexist. That personality doesn’t disappear in death. And that saying goodbye doesn’t have to mean suppressing colour, music or individuality.
Why She Matters
Through her documentary presence and growing public profile, Hayley McCaughran is helping shift the national conversation around death. She challenges taboos, empowers families to take ownership of farewells, and reminds us that funerals are not just about endings, they are about honouring a life lived.
In doing so, she has become one of the most distinctive voices in modern funeral care: compassionate, courageous and unafraid to reimagine tradition.
Hayley McCaughran isn’t just a funeral director. She’s a storyteller of lives, ensuring that every final chapter is written with authenticity, love and individuality.
