BBC Radio 2

JO Whiley was left in tears as she recalled how she told her sister with a learning disability that their dad was dying.

The BBC Radio 2 host, 60, shared the sad news that her beloved father Martin had passed away as she shared a gushing tribute to him on Instagram yesterday (23 July 2026).

During the latest episode of Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball, which was released yesterday, the pair discussed Jo’s dad’s ill health following on from his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis in 2025.

TV presenter Jo opened up about they navigated explaining what was going on to her sister Frances, 53 – who has a rare chromosomal disorder called Cri du chat syndrome – during the last few moments of his life.

Frances also has learning difficulties and diabetes.

Opening up about how she dealt with the tough time, Jo said: “Frances has been extraordinary and she completely understands what is going on, she knows that he’s not going to get better, she just keeps saying ‘Not going to die?’ and instead of sugar coating it you just have to say ‘Well, he is not going to come home’.

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“And she kind of pauses and she’s like ‘Okay, where is he going?’

“And my mum is a really, really devout Christian and she says ‘Well, he’s going to Jesus and that’s where we all go.’

“Frances is like ‘Okay, how old is he?’ He’s 86, ’87?’ And we’re like ‘No, he is not going to be 87’ and she thinks about it and she’s like ‘Okay’.

“She’s just been so tender with him, it’s been beautiful to watch, I’ve talked about her accepting grief before and coming to terms with things.”

“And then there was this really lovely moment when she was leaving the other day, and it was when he was on the cusp of consciousness and she was going ‘Say my name, say my name!’ And he actually said the word Frances.”

An emotional Zoe simply replied: “Oh wow.”

Holding the tears in, Jo continued: “It was lovely. It was really good.”

But getting overwhelmed by her emotion, wiping the tears from her face, she said: “And she keeps saying ‘Daddy said my name!’

“It couldn’t have been better.’

Many fans rushed to the comments section on YouTube where the podcast can be watched to share the love.

One wrote: “Sending you love and strength Jo we are all holding you in our heart xx.”

Another added: “So very sad for the loss of your dear Dad Jo, sending you love & strength xx.”

“Arh Jo, woke up to see the news that your dad had died and then watched this episode. So sorry lovely, such a hard time for you all. Big love and hugs,” a third said.

On Thursday Jo took to Instagram to share a slew of sweet snaps and short clips of her dad.

In the carousel of memories, Jo could be seen cuddling her dad in one heartwarming photo.

Other snaps showed him at family parties enjoying himself, while one throwback pic also saw the star when she was younger with her father.

Jo then penned an emotional tribute, which started with: “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.”

Jo talked about the “challenges” Martin faced in his own childhood, before meeting her mum and “finally knowing what love is”.

She also thanked her dad for giving her, her “love of music”.

Jo ended the sweet tribute with: “We’re going to miss you so very much. You absolute legend.”

Vernon Kay said he’s “loved working” on BBC Radio 2 as he jokingly started thinking about his exit from the broadcaster, after an on-air blunder led to him uttering a rude word by mistake

Vernon Kay said he’s “loved working” on BBC Radio 2 after an awkward mishap led to a warning from his colleague. His gaffe could be heard on yesterday’s broadcast of his mid-morning BBC Radio 2 show (July 14), as he revealed the contents of a message regarding a particular brand of footwear.

As he read it out, “Crocs” came out sounding uncomfortably close to a very different word, which would be inappropriate to utter on the airwaves, and the result was an immediate on-air .

Reading the message aloud, Vernon said: “Hey, Vern. I wear Crocs with socks. And they’re proper, not proper c***s…Crocs”, in a gaffe that sent the studio into fits of laughter.

He continued: “Oh, clip that. Clip that. I want that on my…not my highlights, my lowlights”. Barely able to contain his laughter, Vernon pressed on: “I hope you have got proper…Crocs, cos if you’ve not got proper Crocs, then you’re gonna be in trouble.”

His co-star, BBC Radio 2’s travel news presenter Ellie Brennan, mischievously cautioned: “You are gonna be in trouble.” Vernon then quipped: “I hope my Crocs work cos at our age, you never know.” As the hilarity ensued, his colleague chimed in with “especially with socks on”.

Vernon cheekily fired back: “No, keep your socks on; it’s safer.” As the pair struggled to get the show back on track, he jested: “I’ve loved working here. Thanks very much. Had a great time.”

The radio mishap also follows fresh attention on Vernon’s personal life after Tess Daly was photographed at the Wimbledon final wearing her wedding rings, despite the pair recently confirming their separation.

Their split was made public in May, with the TV stars clarifying that there’s no bad blood between them.

Back in September 2003, Vernon and Tess married at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Horwich. They’ve since had two daughters — Phoebe and Amber — and confirmed via Instagram that they’ve decided to split, saying the separation is amicable.

The statement read: “After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably.”

It continued: “This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire for what is best for both of us.

“We remain great friends and most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority.

“There are no other parties involved in this decision. We kindly ask for privacy during this time as we navigate this transition together.” The pair signed off by saying they wouldn’t be saying anything else publicly.

But on Sunday (July 12), Tess was spotted arriving at the All England Lawn Tennis Club for Wimbledon, where she was her still wearing her rings despite the sad news.

RADIO and TV broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

The BBC Radio 2 and Greatest Hits Radio presenter, 77, shared a heartbreaking statement confirming he is suffering from the illness.

He said: “As Freddie Mercury once sang, you can’t turn back the clock, you can’t turn back the tide. Ain’t that a shame.

“In early 2025 I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

“There’s no denying it’s a serious condition with an uncertain future, but for now life goes on as normal and I continue to broadcast The Paul Gambaccini Collection on BBC Radio 2 from 8-10pm on Sundays, and my shows on Greatest Hits Radio.

“I’m grateful for the kindness and support I’ve already received.

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“I will be as open as I can as things progress.

“For now, I wish to be given the space to keep on broadcasting the music I love to the listeners I love even more.

“These are the days of our lives.”

Alzheimer’s disease is named after the doctor who first described it in medical literature, Alois Alzheimer.

The condition affects one in six people over the age of 80 and it is thought that around 850,000 people in total are suffering in the UK alone.

A hallmark of the disease is the build-up of amyloid beta proteins in the brain, which causes plaques.

The plaques then result in the loss of connections between nerve cells in the brain – and ultimately the death of those cells and a loss of brain tissue.

Those with Alzheimer’s also have a shortage of key chemicals in the brain, which help transmit messages.

A lack of these chemicals means the brain is unable to process certain messages how it would have previously.

While there is currently no cure for the disease, some treatments can help boost these chemical messages, and ward off some of the symptoms.

But it is ultimately a progressive disease which means more symptoms appear and worsen over time.

Since his diagnosis, Gambaccini and his husband Christopher Sherwood have been receiving support from the Alzheimer’s Society.

Charity chief executive Michelle Dyson said: “Paul’s experience shows that there can be life after a dementia diagnosis – his fans will be delighted at his decision to carry on hosting his shows.”

She added: “Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be frightening, but it can also open the door to receiving treatment and support.

“We hope that by sharing his diagnosis, Paul will encourage others to spot the symptoms and reach out if they are worried about themselves or a loved one.

“The earlier someone is diagnosed, the better the chances are that they can continue doing the things they love and live independently for longer, and plan for the future.”

Known as “The Great Gambo” and “The Professor of Pop”, New York-born Gambaccini has presented regular programmes on BBC Radio 1, 2, 3 and 4.

He was a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s long-running arts programme Kaleidoscope.

He’s also hosted the Classic FM series Paul Gambaccini’s Hall Of Heroes, the Radio 4 music quiz Counterpoint, Pick Of The Pops on BBC Radio 2, and America’s Greatest Hits on Greatest Hits Radio, as well as the Paul Gambaccini Collection on Radio 2.

Gambaccini was inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame in 2005.

The Alzheimer’s Society offers support to everyone affected by dementia at alzheimers.org.uk and has a support line on 0333 150 3456.

A dementia symptoms checklist can be found at alzheimers.org.uk/checklist.

Travel expert Simon Calder has urged anyone with a summer holiday booked to check their passport validity before travelling to the EU

Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a stark warning to anyone planning to head abroad this June, July and August. Countless Britons are eagerly counting down the days to their summer getaways during the peak travel season.

Yet Simon has urged everybody to carry out a crucial check before setting off, in order to avoid “wrecked holidays”. He explained that “thousands upon thousands” of travellers have already been caught out and missed their long-awaited breaks.

He took part in a discussion on BBC Radio 2, where one holidaymaker revealed he had been turned away at the boarding gate before his flight.

James Luton had been due to fly to Portugal last week to celebrate his 50th birthday, but was denied boarding at the airport gate because his passport had been issued more than 10 years ago — despite not having expired.

Britons travelling to EU or Schengen area destinations cannot hold passports that are older than 10 years upon arrival at their holiday destination. The passport must also remain valid for a minimum of three months beyond the date you intend to return home.

Simon appeared on the programme to implore everyone with holidays booked to check their passports before it’s too late. He said: “Unfortunately, he [James] is just one of thousands upon thousands of people who have fallen foul of this.

“As we speak, there will be people who have headed to the airport, and the same thing happened to them. It is just absolutely miserable.”

Simon urged: “You must remember, if you are going to the EU apart from Ireland, you cannot have a passport older than 10 years on the day you enter. It is the only part of the world that cares about when your passport is issued.

“Everywhere else only cares about the expiry date. Please, if you are going away in June, July and August please check that your passport is going to comply.

“Has it had its 10th birthday on the day you plan to go away, and has it got at least three months left on the date you plan to leave? That way, we can hopefully avoid too many more wrecked holidays.”

Prior to 2018, passports could stay valid for up to 10 years and nine months.

This was due to unused months from old passports being transferred to new ones, but this practice was scrapped in 2018.

The issue predominantly impacts those with burgundy passports, since anyone holding a blue passport obtained it in 2020 or afterwards.

It’s still advisable to verify children’s blue passports, as these are usually only valid for five years.

RYLAN has apologised after being forced to pull out of his BBC Radio Two show.

The 37-year-old was due to be on air today, but failed to make it home from Nice, France.

The radio host had to be replaced at the eleventh hour after being stranded abroad.

Calling into Emma Willis‘ show to explain his predicament, Rylan said: “I decided to go away with my partner and a couple of my friends to Nice for a few days and just enjoy the sun.

“I didn’t have work this week, I’d managed to clear my diary and I was like, that’s amazing.

“I was flying back very early this morning, so I went to the airport and it was like, ‘no’.

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“I was like, “sorry?’

“At one point I was going to get on an eight-hour train, which still would have made me late for work, but would have got me home today.

“In the end I thought, ‘you know what, you’ve done well for yourself, I’m just going to stay another day’.

“What can I do? I’m not going to be able to make the show today so I thought I can either really stress myself out about this and sweat my foundation off my forehead or I’m just going to have to swallow it and deal with it and go, ‘what a shame, there’s worse places to be’.”

Rylan was replaced by Mark Goodier, with a BBC rep confirming on social media: “Rylan got stranded somewhere Nice…”

Rylan replied in the comments, writing: “So unprofessional.”

He also went on his Instagram, telling fans: “Soz about today’s show.

“I blame everyone but myself.

“Genuinely had it all sussed out and then flights all cancelled.

“Thanks Mark for stepping in you legend. Gonna have a rosé and think of you all.”

Mark stepped up to the hotseat for Rylan to host the film and TV quiz Couch Potatoes and discovered how listeners’ holiday dilemmas turned into a feel-good success story.

Rylan will be back next week to host his three-hour show Rylan On Saturday which airs weekly at 3pm.

TV host Lorraine Kelly saw her team lose jobs in the IT shake up – her show Lorraine has been slashed to 30 weeks a year and gone from an hour to 30 minutes on screen

Lorraine Kelly has said the ITV cuts to her show have left her feeling “really rubbish” as rumours continue that she could leave.

The TV host has now been on screen for over 40 years, but said in an interview last year she was “not done yet” despite ITV cutting her hours. As part of daytime ITV budget cuts her show Lorraine has been slashed to 30 weeks a year and gone from an hour to 30 minutes on screen.

Speaking to Saga magazine when asked how she felt about what happened, Lorraine said: “Really rubbish. A lot of my team got made redundant. It was really hard and harder for them. We were very close-knit, but it’s all about budget. All television shows are in the same boat, we’re not alone.”

She went on to insist despite the role and hours changing, it was still “the best job in television” with lovely guests. Lorraine, 66, also spoke in the interview about her beloved dad John dying aged 84 in January and her mum’s health.

She said: “Mum’s health’s bad, but she’s grand. She’s very self-sufficient, like all those war babies are. I always keep an eye on her but don’t let her know I’m keeping an eye on her. I’ve said, ‘You can stay with us any time for as long as you like’. It’s weird. When something massive is happening, your hand still goes to your phone. Dad is – I keep speaking about him in the present tense – really into space. When [NASA’s rocket] Artemis II flew around the moon, I wanted to say, ‘Are you watching this? It’s amazing’. Then you remember he’s not there.”

She added: “When Dad wasn’t well, it brought us closer, supporting each other. It’s been a tough time, but the conversations you have with your relatives you wouldn’t have had otherwise are amazing: you talk about the past and then the wedding – that’s a new beginning.”

Lorraine is upbeat and optimistic despite a series of setbacks in life in recent months. In June 2025 Lorraine was told she was a “national treasure” during an interview and replied: “Well, that’s nice, but it’s only because I’ve been around for so long.

“I’ve been doing telly for over 40 years. It’s mad isn’t it? It’s absolutely crazy. I started in breakfast telly in 1984, and I’m still getting away with it. Extraordinarily.”

Speaking to Tom Kerridge on the Proper Tasty podcast, she added: “40 years in TV last year was incredible. I got a BAFTA. ‘Here’s a BAFTA for being alive’. I thought, ‘Hang on a minute, I’m not done yet’.”

Lorraine was told in person by ITV boss Kevin Lygo about the changes to her show which began at the start of 2026. Reports have suggested she is considering leaving her ITV show in the future and could work for BBC or other broadcasters. She made her Radio 2 debut at Christmas presenting in Jeremy Vine’s midday slot during the festive period. Her presence would also likely give any other channel a ratings boost if she ever moves, as she remains hugely popular.

* The full interview with Lorraine is in July’s Saga magazine, out now.

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TINA Daheley’s BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show replacement has been revealed just a day after she announced she’s quitting.

The newsreader has spent nearly eight years on the programme and was dubbed former host Scott Mills’ “work wife”, but now she’s moving on.

Filling her sizeable shoes is journalist Matt Carter, and he can’t wait to get going.

Writing on Instagram, he said: “Thrilled to finally be able to spill the beans and tell you I’ll be joining a stellar cast of @djsaracox, @theelliebrennan and the fantastic prod team as your newsreader on the NEW breakfast show next month! Big (and very stylish) shoes to fill – wish me luck…

“See you on the 6th!”

The news was well received by listeners and station legends.

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Zoe Ball said: “Fantastic news Matthew [heart].”

While OJ Borg posted: “Mate this is wicked! You were wicked when we did breakfast together.”

Tina, 45, told how the role had been “one of the greatest privileges of my life” and admitted it was “humbling” to “deliver the biggest breakfast show in Europe”.

She then made the reveal she is staying in the Radio 2 fold and on Jeremy Vine‘s 12-2pm show over summer.

In an emotional statement, she wrote: “After more than seven years of early alarm calls on Radio 2, I’m stepping away from Radio 2 breakfast.

“It’s been one of the greatest privileges of my life to wake up with you every morning, and humbling to have been trusted to deliver the news on the biggest breakfast show in Europe.”

Tina went on to reminisce about her time with the BBC and said: “My breakfast run ends on Radio 2 but it all started on 1Xtra where I landed my dream job reading the news on Trevor Nelson’s Breakfast Show.

“From there, I spent a decade broadcasting to one in four young people in the UK on Radio 1.

“After 18 years and six back to back breakfast shows (probably a record) in there somewhere, I am looking forward to a lie in”.

Tina, who began her BBC radio career on Trevor Nelson’s show, reads the early-morning news and contributes to lively discussions.

Earlier this year, she went “missing” amid an “awful week” after being struck down by illness.

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She was absent at the same time as her former co-host Scott was pulled off-air.

It was revealed earlier this year that fan-favourite host Scott, 53, had been fired from his Radio 2 Breakfast Show over allegations surrounding his “personal conduct“.

Scott was dismissed after new information about a police investigation about alleged sex offences with a boy aged under 16 in 2018 came to light at the BBC.

As well as losing his role on Radio 2, Mills was also sacked from working on the BBC’s Eurovision coverage and from a new podcast spin off from Race Across The World, which he won the celebrity series of in 2024.

It was revealed shortly afterwards that Sara Cox would take over the sought after Breakfast Show slot earlier this year, with insiders saying the talented star was seen as the “heir apparent” for the job.

The travel expert says ‘thousands upon thousands’ of Brits have had their holidays ruined

Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a stark message to anyone who is going abroad in June, July and August. Many Brits are counting down to their summer holidays and the peak travel season.

However, Simon has urged everyone to do a vital check before travelling to avoid “wrecked holidays”. Simon explained that “thousands upon thousands” of people have already been caught out and missed their booked holidays.

He took part in a discussion on BBC Radio 2, where a holidaymaker explained that he had been turned away from his flight at the boarding gate.

James Luton was due to fly to Portugal last week for his 50th birthday but was denied boarding at the airport gate because his passport was issued more than 10 years ago, even though it was not expired.

Brits heading to the EU or Schengen areas cannot have passports older than 10 years when they arrive at their holiday destination. It must also be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to return home.

Simon appeared on the show to urge everyone with holidays booked to check their passports before it is too late. He said: “Unfortunately, he [James] is just one of thousands upon thousands of people who have fallen foul of this.

“As we speak, there will be people who have headed to the airport, and the same thing happened to them. It is just absolutely miserable.”

Simon urged: “You must remember, if you are going to the EU apart from Ireland, you cannot have a passport older than 10 years on the day you enter. It is the only part of the world that cares about when your passport is issued.

“Everywhere else only cares about the expiry date. Please, if you are going away in June, July and August please check that your passport is going to comply.

“Has it had its 10th birthday on the day you plan to go away, and has it got at least three months left on the date you plan to leave? That way, we can hopefully avoid too many more wrecked holidays.”

Before 2018, passports could remain valid for as long as 10 years and nine months.

This was because months remaining on old passports were rolled over to new passports, but the system was discontinued in 2018.

The problem mainly affects those holding burgundy passports, as anyone with a blue passport received it in 2020 or later.

It is still worth checking children’s blue passports, as they are typically only valid for five years.

BBC Radio 2 host Vernon Kay and former Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly have remained on good terms, following their split after 23 years of marriage

Vernon Kay has opened up about a recent family gathering in his first on-air mention of Tess Daly since addressing their split. The couple announced their separation earlier this month after 23 years of marriage and have remained on good terms.

Shortly after their announcement, Vernon said on his BBC Radio 2 show: “I just want to say on behalf of myself and Tess, thank you, thank you, for all your well wishes, it’s been greatly, greatly, appreciated,” before continuing with his duties.

Despite the split, they are believed to still be living together with their two daughters, Amber and Phoebe.

Back on his show on Monday, Vernon shared details about a party that took place at their home. He revealed: “Yesterday, we were tidying up, Amber had a party.

“Tess and I were running around tidying up and thank goodness that the weather was nice, do you know what I mean, with cleaning up the garden. We had such a good time, it was awesome on Saturday night and very funny.

“But in the morning, Tess and I were like, ‘Woah, better get cracking!'” After his co-star Ellie suggested it was an “all day job”, Vernon agreed, adding: “Yeah, brace yourself!”.

In a statement shared with fans on May 8, the couple said their decision to separate had “not been an easy choice”, but came “from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire for what is best for both of us”.

They added that they “remain great friends and most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority”.

The pair also clarified that there were “no other parties involved” and asked for privacy “as we navigate this transition together”.

Vernon’s father, Norman, has also spoken about the couple’s “sad” split, telling the Daily Mail they had “gone in different directions” over the years.

“But it’s an amicable split and there is no bad blood between them,” he added. “Sometimes these things happen for the better and this is one of those cases.”

Offering some advice to his son, Norman urged Vernon “not to rush into another relationship” before joking: “He’s a good-looking lad but not as good looking as me!”

He later clarified: “He’s not interested in finding anyone else at the moment and there is nobody else involved.”

Vernon and Tess were spotted out together at Pub in the Park just 10 days after their split. Pictures show the duo mingling with fellow attendees, while appearing to be in high spirits.

An onlooker at the event told The Sun: “Tess and Vernon seemed super-relaxed in each other’s company despite the news of their split.

“It’s clear to see that they are still very much happy around one another and there’s been none of this messy split business. They chatted to fans, posed for selfies and had a well-earned boogie.”

Alan Titchmarsh’s comments came to light as he described a typical Saturday, which might include a shopping trip using something a BBC star has reportedly said they don’t like

Alan Titchmarsh has taken a swipe at a BBC Radio 2 star who “lives in London” over alleged comments about a vehicle he owns. Alan’s remarks came as he described a typical Saturday with his wife, Alison, following the couple’s recent move to a new home in Surrey after “living in Hampshire around farmland for 40 years”.

By 7am, the Ground Force legend is brewing up a cuppa for Alison and is “up and at ’em”, tackling a crossword to keep his mind sharp before heading outside to check his beloved garden.

Come 11am, the pair might venture out for a spot of shopping, and for that, it appears they rely on their trusty four-by-fours. However, Alan claims one BBC star is far from impressed by the vehicles.

The radio host in question apparently “slags them off”, yet Alan and Alison need them, particularly when navigating their local potholes — pointing out that the host is based in the capital.

He told The Telegraph: “Ali and I might head out and do a bit of [homeware] shopping. We’ve lived in Hampshire around farmland for 40 years, so both of us have four-by-fours. It’s all right when Jeremy Vine slags them off, but he lives in London.

“Out here, we need them! If you saw our potholes! When the two of us are driving, we’re almost always locked in conversation but I play music when I’m alone – either Classic FM, Radio 3 or Radio 4.

“The car picks up my iPhone music and I often listen to the score for the latest series of All Creatures Great and Small by Alexandra Harwood. It’s lovely.”

Keen cyclist Jeremy previously documented drivers breaking traffic laws and shared these on social media in an effort to spotlight the dangers faced by cyclists.

However, he abandoned this practice after suffering online “trolling”. He revealed on X: “I’m stopping my cycling videos. The trolling just got too bad. They have had well over 100 million views, but in the end the anger they generate has genuinely upset me.”

Indeed, it reportedly got so bad that he received death threats for posting videos of drivers, with some cruelly dubbing him “England’s biggest ***hole”.

He said: “Some of the biggest videos were actually about the smallest incidents, like someone turning left in front of me.

“People are happy to discuss it and I actually think that we’d all be safer if we all understood each other. People are going to drive 4x4s in Kensington and whatnot, but they need to have a bit of care for me on a bicycle.

“You might be in total control when you pass close by, but the person on a bicycle doesn’t know that. I just hope I was part of a dialogue about it.”

Love Your Weekend host Alan Titchmarsh questioned Jeremy Vine after the presenter opened up about an embarrassing celebrity encounter.

Jeremy Vine has shared a cringe-worthy story about meeting one of pop music’s biggest stars under rather unfortunate circumstances.

Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh returned to ITV this morning, with the much-loved presenter heading to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent for this week’s episode.

Alan Titchmarsh, 77, was joined by BBC presenter and journalist Jeremy, Michael Flatley and Kate Fleetwood, while dog-in-training Titch also made a welcome reappearance.

The veteran host kicked off the programme by quizzing his celebrity guests about their greatest “pinch me moments”.

Jeremy then launched into a rather risqué anecdote about a particularly memorable bathroom visit during his time at BBC Radio 2, prompting Alan to step in with a cautionary word.

“Behind Radio 2 reception there was a loo…” he began, as Alan interjected: “I think you’re going to take this slightly downmarket…”

“I wont!” Jeremy insisted as Alan questioned: “Is this really necessary?”

Jeremy then explained: “I’ve got to tell this story; I’ve got to unload because I haven’t really told it before.”

Alan then cheekily warned Jeremy that the phrase ‘I’ve really got to unload’ hardly inspired great confidence given the direction the tale was heading, reports the Express.

Undeterred, Jeremy continued: “So behind Radio 2 reception there is a single cubicle toilet and it was always locked because the receptionist said we don’t want anyone going in there for obvious reasons.

“And one day I was bursting and I could see the door unlocked, so I say, ‘Do you mind if I go in?’ and I lock the door and I’m in a seated position…

“You’re on the verge of oversharing!” Alan exclaimed, as Jeremy continued: “I don’t understand what’s going on outside the door because I’ve got no idea.

“But Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees has said to reception, ‘I need to use the loo urgently.’

“And reception looks round and the door is locked because it always is because they lock the door to stop people using it,” he clarified.

“So they gave him the master key and I’m sitting in the loo in a seriously private moment and [the door] suddenly opens and Barry Gibb walks in!

“This is the guy who wrote Islands in the Stream!” Jeremy added, as the studio erupted into laughter.

“He walks in a completely continuous movement and I think he made the noise ‘ha?!'” the presenter said, imitating a similar sound to what the Bee Gees sing in their famous track, Stayin’ Alive.

“I’ve only met him once and that was it,” Jeremy concluded, as Alan swiftly steered the conversation elsewhere.

For her standout moment, Kate recounted the occasion she encountered legendary Hollywood actor Dustin Hoffman following a theatrical performance.

She recalled being completely starstruck having previously watched him in classics such as Tootsie and The Graduate, while younger cast members recognised him from the animated blockbuster Kung Fu Panda.

Meanwhile, Michael disclosed he had recently had an audience with Pope Leo XIV, describing it as amongst the greatest days of his life.

Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh airs every Sunday at 9.30am on ITV1 and ITVX.

The BBC star finds it ‘heart-breaking’ that her great x3 grandfather had such a difficult start in life – and was later declared ‘destitute’.

Zoe Ball was famously the top-earning presenter at the BBC, earning a high of £1.4million a year as host of the Radio 2 Breakfast show back in 2021. But in the new series of Who Do You Think You Are?, the radio star discovers that her great x3 grandfather James Temby, a Cornish miner, was deported from Guernsey as a young father for being “destitute”.

He and other members of the family, who had travelled there to start a new life with the promise of work in the granite quarries, were ordered out after two years. And this came after he’d already had a particularly tough start in life – spending six weeks in Bodmin jail as an illegitimate two-year-old after his single mother Julia was locked up for six weeks in 1851 for an “assault” an another woman.

On hearing how the pair of them would have spent time in the pitch black at the Cornish reform prison, which restricted access to light in order to encourage better behaviour from inmates, Zoe is horrified. “It’s heart-breaking isn’t it?” she says.

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Standing in the tiny, draughty cell – which could have been the very one where her ancestors were incarcerated – she also learns that the prison was silent, and so all speaking was banned, and that the inmates also had their heads shaved to prevent lice.

Zoe gasps: “That’s tough living isn’t it? It’s pretty devastating to think of a two-year old living in these conditions. Must have been terrifying for both of them.”

Jess Marlton, general manager of The Bodmin Jail which is now a hotel and museum, agrees: “Trying to keep a two-year-old quiet I should think was quite a challenge.” But she explained: “There was nowhere else for him to go and no other means to support him.”

Zoe stays the night in one of the converted cells and admits she had to “sleep with the light on”. Afterwards there is happier news when she discovers that James went on to marry her great x3 grandmother Mary Ann at the age of 19 and, despite the setback in Guernsey, he and his family fared better once they returned to England. They were initially sent to Plymouth in 1869 but by 1875 had moved 400 miles north to County Durham, which is where Zoe’s late mother Julia grew up.

James successfully secured work in the coal mines and they also ran a greengrocers shop. By the time he died 40 years later, at the age of 73, he was said to be held in the “highest esteem” by the local community. Shown a picture of the shop, based in Hunwick, Zoe says of Mary Ann: “There she is, she’s got her pinny on ready to work. It’s so wonderful to see their faces.” The couple had five children who all went on to marry.

Zoe – who’d speculated at the start of the film that she was descended from “a long line of wrong ’uns” – is thrilled to see that James was “respected in the end”. She admires the “strength and resilience” he showed in moving around to find work and support his family and feels she was actually “quite wrong” about the family history journey she’d expected to go on.

Zoe, 55, also tells the programme that she was brought up by her dad, former TV presenter Johnny Ball, from the age of two when her parents divorced, and didn’t have any contact with Julia for 14 years – which was “pretty tough”. Having fully reconciled with her mother in her later teenage years, she says that Julia’s death, in 2024, made her take a long hard look at her own life. “It really made me step back and reevaluate what’s important,” she explained. Speaking of her 15-year-old daughter, Nelly, she said “I really just want to be mum and be around for her, before she’s grown up and off into the big wide world like her brother.”

In the programme the former Radio 2 breakfast star also learns that her impoverished maternal grandmother was a serial fantasist who had “delusions of grandeur”and was sent to a mental hospital.

Margaret ‘Peggy’ Minto was committed for acute mania after being put on trial for shoplifting. Poor Peggy’s fantasies continued even while she was undergoing treatment, which included electroconvulsive therapy – an electric current passed through the brain.

Zoe’s only regret is that Julia did not live long enough to find out the fascinating details of their shared ancestry. “It’s been hard to do this without Mum,” she sighed. “I want to ring her up – I know she’d be really chuffed.”

– Zoe Ball’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? airs on BBC1, May 26 at 9pm.

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