Jo Whiley pays tribute to her 'lovely dad' Martin, 86

BBC Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley has paid tribute to her father, Martin Whiley, after announcing his death aged 86. The Northampton-born broadcaster shared an Instagram post calling him her "lovely dad" and the "kindest man," following his Parkinson's diagnosis and a recent hospital stay.

Key Takeaways

• Jo Whiley announced on Instagram that her father, Martin Whiley, died aged 86.
• Martin had Parkinson's disease and was hospitalised after a bleed on the brain.
• Whiley called him supremely selfless and credited him with her love of music.
• On the Dig It podcast, she described helping sister Frances process the loss.
• Co-host Zoe Ball offered tearful support and later posted public condolences.

What did Jo Whiley say about her father's death?

According to the BBC, Whiley posted on Tuesday that her "lovely dad died today." She wrote that Martin was "the kindest man, who lived solely to make others happy."

The 61-year-old Radio 2 presenter thanked him for her love of music, recalling how he carried "a huge ghetto blaster" around the building sites where he worked. She also noted his "unrivalled" passion for Elbow, Coldplay and Dido.

"He was supremely selfless and loved nothing more than caring for others and making people laugh," she added. She called him "the greatest dad" and "everybody's favourite grandad," especially to her children India, Jude, Cass and Coco.

Why does Martin's story matter to fans of Whiley?

Whiley had already told listeners on her podcast that Martin was living with Parkinson's disease. Wales Online reported that, shortly before the Instagram announcement, she became upset on Dig It while explaining he had been taken into hospital after a bleed on the brain.

She said he spent several days in care before being moved to a ward where he was being "kept comfortable." "He's not going to get better and so everyone's been to say hellos and goodbyes," she told co-host Zoe Ball, who replied: "Oh darling, just saying those things out loud, it's really tough."

Whiley also reflected on Martin's difficult childhood. She said he was without parents from a young age and was "sent alone to a sanatorium in London for two years" after a tuberculosis diagnosis. "Knowing how it felt not to be cared for, he devoted his life to caring for others," she explained.

How did Jo Whiley help her sister Frances grieve?

The Independent reported that Whiley spoke about supporting her sister Frances, who has cri du chat syndrome, after their 86-year-old father's death. On Dig It, she said she avoided "sugarcoating" the situation, telling Frances that their father "is not going to come home."

Whiley said that shortly before he died, Frances asked Martin to say her name, which he managed to do. "And she keeps saying, 'Daddy said my name' and it was lovely, it couldn't have been better," she recalled.

She also said the "hardest thing" was seeing younger relatives upset as his condition worsened. Hearing, she noted, is often "the last thing to go," and the family shared quiet conversations with him. Follow more celebrity breaking news on BlasterPost.