Jo Whiley became emotional while sharing how she helped her sister, Frances, cope with the loss of their father, Martin.
Frances, age 53, has a rare genetic condition called Cri du Chat, which significantly affects her learning and development. She also manages diabetes.
The 61-year-old radio and TV personality announced the sad passing of her father on Wednesday, not long after revealing his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease.
Just one day after sharing the news of his death, Jo spoke about how her family is dealing with their loss on her Dig It podcast with Zoe Ball.
Jo explained how she spoke with Frances, saying Frances has been incredibly understanding throughout everything. Knowing her husband won’t recover, Frances repeatedly asks if he’s going to die. Jo said it’s best to be direct and simply tell her that he isn’t coming home.
She paused for a moment and asked where he was going. My mother, who is very religious, replied that he was going to Jesus – as everyone does eventually.
Frances asked how old someone was. When told he was 86, she questioned if he was actually 87. We corrected her, and after a moment of thought, she agreed.
It’s been lovely seeing how gently she’s been treating him. I’ve mentioned before how she’s been working through her sadness and learning to cope with everything that’s happened.
Jo shared a sweet story about a recent moment: as she was leaving, he was just starting to wake up. She playfully encouraged him to say her name, and incredibly, he actually said ‘Frances!’
‘Oh wow,’ Zoe said as she teared up.
Honestly, seeing my daughter’s reaction was just everything. She’s been repeating ‘Daddy said my name!’ and it’s the sweetest thing. It was a truly special moment, and I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better. As a parent, those little connections are what it’s all about.
Jo shared news of her father’s death on Instagram Wednesday, posting heartwarming photos and videos of him from over the years.
She shared news of her father’s passing with a heartfelt message: ‘My wonderful Dad passed away today. He was the most kind and giving person, always putting others first and dedicated to bringing joy to everyone around him.’
I’ve received lots of messages today saying ‘Martin was a character,’ and that really captures who he was. Everyone in the village, at the pub, and especially at the school knew Martin Whiley – he was the best school pick-up helper, always cheerful and friendly, even before that became popular!
She expressed gratitude to her father for instilling in her a passion for music, recalling how he’d bring a large boombox with him while working on construction sites.
The star called him the ‘OG DJ’ and applauded him for his passion for music.
Jo explained that his childhood was incredibly difficult. He contracted tuberculosis as a child and spent two years recovering alone in a London sanitarium – which is how their whole family became Tottenham Hotspur supporters! Sadly, he grew up without parents and was raised by a close family friend, whom he affectionately called Pap.
When my mum came into his life, my dad finally had the family he’d always wanted and discovered what it felt like to be loved. Having grown up without much care himself, he dedicated his life to looking after others.
Raising a child with learning disabilities in the 1970s – Jo’s sister, Frances, has cri du chat syndrome – wasn’t easy, but her father consistently championed acceptance and love for everyone, becoming a positive influence in the learning disabilities community.
‘So many great singalongs at the Rockin’ Roadrunner with Dad on the mic.
Despite a difficult childhood himself, he created wonderfully happy childhoods for Frances, his grandchildren, and me. He was an amazing father and the most loved grandfather – particularly by India, Jude, Cass, and Coco, who were completely devoted to him.
P.S. From Frances: Thank you for all the wonderful stories you told us, night after night. We’re really going to miss you – you’re a true legend! xx
Jo’s post was also flooded with condolences from her celebrity pals.
Fearne Cotton wrote: ‘Love and strength to you today Jo. We are all here for you. Love you.’
Davina McCall expressed her sympathy to Jo, sending her love, and Denise Van Outen offered her condolences.
He died shortly after Jo revealed she was simply focusing on getting through each day, as her family continued to deal with health issues.
The popular BBC Radio 2 host is still thriving, successfully managing her radio program and two hit podcasts.
Behind the scenes, Jo has been navigating some tough times personally, as several members of her family are currently facing health problems.
She recently told Woman & Home magazine that she’s been going through a difficult time personally, but things are improving.
She shared that her mother had back surgery around Christmas, and she spent a lot of time at the hospital supporting both her parents. Her father also has Parkinson’s disease, so those months were focused on just getting through each day and being there for them.
Jo recently gave an update about her father’s struggle with Parkinson’s disease, explaining that each day feels repetitive and similar to the last.
On her Dig It podcast, she shared that her father hadn’t been wanting to take his medicine lately.
He kept saying he didn’t need to take his medication. We all tried to explain – the whole room of us – that he really did, because he had Parkinson’s disease. But then he asked if Parkinson’s just… went away on its own.
She described it as a ‘heartbreaking moment’, as she told her father that the disease is incurable.
‘Every day it’s like Groundhog Day. You have the same conversations over and over again.’
2026-07-23 12:52