Former BBC News presenter Kate Silverton has tragically lost her mother, Patricia, who passed away earlier this month. The Strictly Come Dancing star, who joined BBC News in 2007, shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram, confessing she had been "holding her breath for a very long time". Honouring the memory of Patricia, 83, who also served as Kate's manager, the journalist, 55, wrote: "I feel as though I've been holding my breath for a very long time. Last summer, my dear mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Having initially chosen to forgo treatment, she later discovered a clinical trial and requested to take part." Kate went on to say: "At 83, having chemotherapy and immunotherapy was no mean feat, but mum showed incredible bravery and stoicism as she returned each week for treatment."

Revealing that Patricia underwent the treatment to 'give her more time', she added: "It was as much she said, to help her have more time, as to help others who were sadly in the same situation."

Tragically, despite showing initial signs of improvement with the treatment, Kate's mother passed away on April 8. Expressing her gratitude for the precious time she did share with Patricia, Kate added: "I am grateful for so much – and my sisters and I know how lucky we are to have had mum with us for as long as we did."

Acknowledging that things weren't always straightforward between the two, the broadcaster, who has since retrained as a child therapist, revealed their relationship had previously been "complex", sharing: "My relationship with my mum was complex and had not been without difficulty in earlier decades."

"I attribute therapy to being able to heal the wounds that existed – and for being able to love my mum – and come to a enjoy a great sense of peace and understanding between us that saw us forge the most beautiful bond in our later years.

"It means I am able now to remember her for all the good times and all the wonderful things she did – and the joy she brought and support she gave to all in her family.

"I shall remember her laugh, her sense of style, her logic, intelligence, her protection and love for her family and her extraordinary energy and capacity to 'do'."

Signing off, Kate wrote: "Fly well mum and give dad a big kiss from us all." Kate's father, Terry, who was a hypnotherapist and former black cab driver, passed away from liver and bone cancer in 2015.

The newsreader, who has two sisters, Amy and Claire, studied Psychology at Durham University before embarking on a career in journalism. Kate went on to front BBC News at Six, News at 10 and Panorama.

In 2018, she traded the newsroom for the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor, finishing in eighth place alongside professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec.