BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley has received an outpouring of support following the death of her “lovely” father, whom she described as “the kindest man”.
The 61-year-old broadcaster had previously revealed on her Dig It podcast that her father, Martin, had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a condition she found “heartbreaking”.
According to the NHS, Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition where parts of the brain become damaged over many years, affecting movement, as well as bodily and mental functions.
Whiley announced her father’s passing on Instagram on Tuesday night, sharing a series of photos and videos of them together throughout the years.
She wrote: “My lovely Dad died today. He was the kindest man, who lived solely to make others happy.
“He was supremely selfless and loved nothing more than caring for others and making people laugh.”
The broadcaster said she has received “so many messages today” praising her father and describing him as “a character” – which she said “sums him up completely”.
Whiley added: “I have Dad to thank for my love of music – he used to walk around the building site where he worked as an electrician with a huge ghetto blaster – the OG DJ and his passion for music never went away.
“His love for Elbow, Coldplay and Dido was unrivalled.”
The TV and radio star, who was born in Northampton, recounted how her father’s childhood was “as sad as it gets”, saying he was “sent alone to a sanatorium in London for two years” after being diagnosed with tuberculosis.
Whiley added: “(This) is why we’re all Spurs fans!”
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The broadcaster also explained that her father had “no parents” from a young age, and was raised by a family friend, adding: “Meeting my mum meant that dad got a family of his own and finally got to experience love.
“Knowing how it felt not to be cared for, he devoted his life to caring for others.”
Whiley, whose younger sister Frances has cri du chat syndrome, a genetic disorder that can cause significant learning disabilities, wrote: “Being the father of someone with learning disabilities (LD) in the 70s meant that life has had its challenges.
“But Dad has been such a force for good in the LD world simply by embracing and loving everyone with a difference.
“He may have had the saddest childhood but he triumphed by giving me, Frances, and his grandchildren the happiest childhoods anyone could have dreamt of.”
“He was the greatest Dad and he was everybody’s favourite Grandad, but especially to India, Jude, Cass and Coco who adored him,” she added, referring to her four children.
The DJ also wrote a message from her sister at the end of the post, in which she described their father as a “legend” who the family will “miss so very much”.
Friends fans and fellow stars expressed their condolences, with award-winning screenwriter and TV producer Russell T Davies, best known for reviving Doctor Who, writing: “The OG DJ. So sorry, love to you and the family. Take care.”
“Oh Jo – so so sorry for your loss – sending love,” broadcaster Kate Garraway wrote.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver said: “Bless you Jo I’m so sorry for the loss of your father, sending loads of love,” while image consultant and DJ Gok Wan, singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, actor Richard E Grant, TV hosts Gaby Roslin and Vanessa Feltz, and retired radio presenter Bob Harris also sent messages of support.
BBC Radio 2, where Whiley has worked for 15 years after leaving Radio 1, said: “Sending you and your family lots of love Jo.”
