Jo Whiley breaks down in tears as she details how she told her younger sister Frances, 53 – who has a learning disability – that their beloved dad died

Jo Whiley broke down in tears as she detailed how she guided her younger sister Frances through grief following the death of their father Martin.

Frances, 53, lives with a rare genetic disorder called Cri du Chat, a condition which causes severe learning disabilities and developmental delays. She also lives with diabetes.

The radio and TV presenter, 61, shared the devastating news that her father died on Wednesday just weeks after sharing an update on his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. 

Only a day after announcing his passing, Jo appeared on her Dig It podcast with Zoe Ball and discussed how the family has been coping with their grief.

Explaining how she told Frances, 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 sugarcoating it you just have to say “Well, he is not going to come home”.

‘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 and she goes “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.’

Jo added: ‘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.

‘Oh wow,’ Zoe said as she teared up.

Feeling mixed emotions, Jo added: ‘It was lovely, it was really good. She keeps saying “Daddy said my name!” It couldn’t have been better.’

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday to announce her father’s passing, Jo posted a series of happy snaps and clips of her dad throughout the years.

Alongside the post, she penned: ‘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.

‘I’ve had so many messages today saying that ‘Martin was a character’ and that sums him up completely. Everyone knew Martin Whiley – in the Pub, in his Village and at the school gates when he picked up my children (he was the BEST Manny EVER long before they became trendy).’

She went on to thank her dad for her love of music, saying he would walk around the building site where he worked as an electrician with a huge ghetto blaster.

The star called him the ‘OG DJ’ and applauded him for his passion for music.

Jo continued: ‘His childhood was as sad as it gets. When he was a boy he had TB and was sent alone to a sanitarium in London for 2 years which is why we’re all Spurs fans! From a young age he had no parents and was brought up by a family friend, his beloved Pap. 

‘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.

‘Being the father of someone with Learning Disabilities in the 70’s [Jo’s younger sister, Frances, has cri du chat syndrome, a genetic disorder], meant that life has had its challenges but Dad has been such a force for good in the LD world simply by embracing & loving everyone with a difference. 

‘So many great singalongs at the Rockin’ Roadrunner with Dad on the mic.

‘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.

‘Ps. From Frances – thanks for the endless stories, night after night, all night long. We’re going to miss you so very much. You absolute 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 said: ‘Oh Jo x sending you all love,’ while Denise Van Outen added: ‘Sorry for your loss.’ 

His passing comes just days after Jo admitted she’s been ‘just trying to get through each day’ as she opened up about her family’s ongoing health struggles.

The BBC Radio 2 presenter continues to enjoy a hugely successful career, juggling her radio show alongside two popular podcasts.

But away from the spotlight, Jo has been dealing with difficult personal challenges as her family face a series of health issues.

In the September issue of Woman & Home, she revealed that ‘things have been hard on a personal level lately’, but are ‘better than they were’.

She explained: ‘My mum had a back operation over Christmas, and for a long time, all I was doing was going to the hospital and sitting with Mum and Dad. That became my whole world. Dad has Parkinson’s, and it was just about getting through each day and being there for them.’

Jo also shared an update on her father’s battle with Parkinson’s disease, saying that ‘everyday is like Groundhog Day’.

Speaking about her father’s condition on her Dig It podcast, she said that her father had recently been reluctant to take his medication.

‘I just don’t feel I need to take them.’ And a whole room full of us were going, ‘No, Dad, you really do. You’ve got Parkinson’s.’ You do. And then he went, ‘But doesn’t Parkinson’s just go away?’

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.’