Culture news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley pays tribute to ‘lovely dad’
BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley has paid tribute to her father, Martin Whiley, following his death, announcing the news in an Instagram post. The 61-year-old broadcaster, who is from Northampton, had previously revealed on her podcast that her father had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and she described him in her tribute as "the kindest man, who lived solely to make others happy".
Whiley credited her father with inspiring her love of music, recalling how he carried a large "ghetto blaster" around the building sites where he worked, and praised his enduring passion for artists such as Elbow, Coldplay and Dido. She also spoke of his difficult childhood, saying he was left without parents from a young age and spent two years alone in a London sanatorium after being diagnosed with tuberculosis, which she said shaped his lifelong dedication to caring for others, including her four children, India, Jude, Cass and Coco.
In short
- Jo Whiley's father Martin Whiley has died
- He had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
- She praised his selflessness and lifelong love of music
Explained simply
Jo Whiley is a British radio presenter, best known for hosting programmes on BBC Radio 2. She grew up in Northampton and has spoken about how her father, Martin, helped shape her interest in music.
Parkinson’s disease is a condition that affects the brain and can make movement and other everyday tasks more difficult. Whiley had previously said her father was diagnosed with it. His childhood experiences, including losing his parents young and spending time in a sanatorium with tuberculosis, also formed part of the family story she has shared publicly.