Movies

Trinny Woodall recalls the harrowing moment she had to tell her daughter Lyla, 11, that her father Johnny Elichaoff had died by suicide

BBG News

In simpler terms, Trinny Woodall shared a heartbreaking story about telling her 11-year-old daughter, Lyla, that her father, Johnny Elichaoff, had taken his own life.

In a recent, heartfelt conversation on her podcast, the 61-year-old style and aesthetics magnate, once known for her role as co-host of What Not to Wear, opened up about the passing of her former spouse, Jonny.

In 2014, Johnny, who was once a drummer and an entrepreneur, ended his life at the age of 55 inside a shopping mall by taking his own life.

Trinny and Jonny, the parents of Lyla (currently 21 years old), exchanged wedding vows in 1999, only to part ways ten years later in 2009. Despite their divorce, they continued their friendship, maintaining daily contact until Jonny’s passing.

As well as daughter Lyla, Johnny had his son Zak from his first marriage 

On this week’s episode of Ferne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Trinny discussed her strategy for sharing the news with Lyla.

She pointed out that the situations involving Johnny were distinct due to the age difference between Lyla (age 11) and Zach (age 21). At 21, Zach had a much greater understanding compared to Lyla about the concept of death.

When I learned about Lila’s father, Lila was at school, leaving me with the difficult task of finding the right way to inform her. My initial struggle was not only deciding how to tell her, but also how to phrase the words. Fortunately, my sister is acquainted with a woman named Julia Samuel, who has written an insightful book on grief titled “Grief Works.” She is highly skilled in this area, which made me hopeful about finding the right approach to communicate with Lila.

Julia visited our home, and upon seeing her, I simply expressed, “I require some words.” To which she responded, “You’ll inform her that he suffered a heart attack.

As a devoted follower, upon returning home from school, I ascended the stairs, only to question my actions. Why am I going upstairs? I had just arrived. Typically, I’d head straight for the kitchen to grab a bite, but Zach was in our bedroom. We gently placed her on the bed instead.

After informing her, she let out a piercing, intense scream, reminiscent of an animal’s distress call. Yet, just 20 minutes later, she was found downstairs grabbing a snack, which to the children suggested a deep affection for their grandfather.

This matter is clear to her on some level; she recognizes that he won’t return in a routine manner. Following his passing, we held a cremation, which has made us all more conscious of his absence.

Additionally, she shared insights on how she managed her personal sorrow and releasing any remorse connected to his passing.

‘Trinny wonders if she could have taken more actions to stop her ex-husband from committing suicide.’

‘No, there was nothing I could have done about it. Reflecting on the regret of someone who takes their own life can lead you into very dark places, but it’s also important to recognize when someone reaches that point and they’ve made their decision – at that point, there’s no changing their path.’

I needed to educate myself, and I found two remarkable charities that focus on this issue. Unfortunately, it’s a significant problem that men under 50 are dying at high rates.

In the ’80s, Jonny gained recognition by performing as a touring drummer for bands such as U2, Siouxsie and the Banshees (Siouxsie Sioux), and The League of Gentlemen.

20 years ago, Johnny, a man struggling with a long-term addiction to painkillers, tragically ended his life at the Whiteley’s shopping center located in Bayswater, West London, during November 2014.

Previously, the former drummer who transitioned into business was calmed down at the same location 11 days ago for a short period and placed under medical supervision.

Over a span of five days, he made three trips back to the shopping mall, and on the following day, he took his own life.

In the year 1999, Johnny tied the knot with television host Trinny in London’s Knightsbridge. Their union produced a daughter named Lyla, who is currently 21 years old. The couple parted ways in 2009 through a divorce, but they have maintained a cordial relationship since then.

An investigation into his demise took place at Westminster Coroner’s Court in November 2015, where Trinny’s sibling Mark Woodall read out a declaration on behalf of the presenter.

Johnny Elichaoff was deeply cherished as a brother, father, and spouse, and his absence will be profoundly felt by everyone fortunate enough to have known him.

In his most challenging times, he consistently stood by those who relied on him as a father, sibling, child, and partner, offering them boundless love and encouragement.

He possessed an exceptional wit and was universally kind, always avoiding any negative comments about others.

He genuinely cared when giving advice, and he possessed a unique knack for making individuals feel comforted after sharing their concerns with him.

Anyone who encountered him always seemed to have an interesting tale to share, and his family finds themselves reminiscing about him daily, as they grapple with the heart-wrenching reality of his untimely demise.

If you need private assistance, reach out to The Samaritans by dialing 116123, or drop by a nearby Samaritans location. For more specifics, check out their website at samaritans.org.

Read More

2025-07-21 08:50

Previous post eFootball 2025: How to get the 30th Anniversary Special Nominating Contract for free
Next post Kiyosaki’s Bubble Bust Bombshell: Crash Looming for All?