Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley has described the arrival of a new puppy as akin to 'throwing a grenade' into her household. The 60-year-old broadcaster, who shares her Northamptonshire home with husband Steve Morton, youngest daughter Coco, 17, and Golden Retriever Django, said the past month with Australian Labradoodle Goose has been exhausting.
Puppy Name Inspired by Rock Band
'It's like throwing a grenade into the household,' Whiley told Notebook. 'I'd forgotten how exhausting puppies are.' The pup's name was inspired by US rock band Geese, fittingly for a music-mad family. Whiley, Steve, and their four children usually struggle to agree on a new pet's name, but 'someone said Goose and we were like, yeah, that could work,' she said.
The family got Goose after their beloved Sproodle Brodie died last October. 'When a dog dies it leaves a massive hole, so it's really nice to have a new puppy — but also a lot of work,' Whiley added.
Midlife Health Challenges
Whiley, who spent 17 years at BBC Radio 1 and has hosted a weeknight show on Radio 2 since 2011, says she is 'the happiest I've ever been' despite the chaos. However, midlife has brought health issues, particularly with exercise. Swimming is a favourite activity, but Whiley's rotator cuffs have worn out, and a bone spur has grown in her left shoulder.
'Every time my arm goes over during front crawl, it catches and clicks. It's such a horrible feeling and sound,' she said. Whiley is considering surgery because she wants to continue swimming. 'I don't like the prospect of living without being able to do front crawl. I still want to be able to swim. I'm only 60,' she added.
Diet and Lifestyle Changes
Whiley has become more aware of her diet, particularly cholesterol levels, after her husband Steve had a minor heart attack. Doctors advised Steve to take statins, but he opted to manage his cholesterol through diet, using Benecol spread and yoghurt drinks. His levels dropped sharply, no longer a concern. Whiley's uncle also lowered his cholesterol after a heart attack by overhauling his diet.
Whiley says her cholesterol is in the healthy range but 'could be lower', so she has Benecol yoghurt daily and includes fresh vegetables, lean protein, chicken, and fish in her diet. She is also more mindful of alcohol. 'As I've got older, the hangovers are horrendous,' she admitted. 'I'll have a vodka with lemonade and instantly I'm panicking about how bad I'm going to feel the next morning.'
Sandwich Generation Care
Whiley is also caring for her parents: mother Christine, recovering from spinal surgery and living with arthritis, and father Martin, who has Parkinson's. 'I'm in that sandwich generation where we're looking after the kids and the parents,' she said. Despite the demands, she doesn't mind, adding: 'I end up sitting with them eating cream cakes and drinking lots of tea.'
Body Image and Perspective
Reflecting on the 1990s, Whiley recalled struggling with self-image. 'Everyone wanted to look like Kate Moss and there was a lot of scrutiny of women,' she said. 'I was no different to anybody else. But I eat sensibly now. I've learned starvation isn't the healthiest option.' Losing friends over the years has changed her perspective. 'The most important thing is that you're fit, able and mobile. What does it matter if you've got wrinkles? I'm just grateful to still be functioning.'
Whiley has occasional facials, Profhilo treatments, and Botox twice a year, but remains 'petrified' of the injections. She finds reassurance in her daughter Coco's generation, who are happier in their skin. 'She loves going to the gym, she likes being strong and fit, but she's not obsessed with being skinny,' Whiley said. However, she worries about smartphones, social media, and a dwindling job market for her children, who work in the arts.
Gardening as a Second Career
Gardening has become a second career for Whiley. She hosts the Royal Horticultural Society's Roots podcast, touring celebrity gardens. Her wish list includes King Charles and Sir David Beckham. 'That's my aim for the next 12 months – to persuade them to let me go and discuss gardening with them,' she said. Whiley considers Beckham a kindred spirit due to their shared family values, though a previous encounter at Glastonbury was awkward: 'I went over to him and said, 'Hi, I've got four children, too!' He went, 'Mm-hmm', then kind of looked away.'
Friendship with Zoe Ball
Whiley's best friend Zoe Ball, co-host of their podcast Dig It, recently missed out on hosting Strictly Come Dancing. Whiley said she was 'gutted' but praised Ball's magnanimity: 'She was honest about the disappointment, but also so magnanimous about the people who are going to do that job.'
No Plans to Slow Down
Despite midlife chaos, Whiley has no intention of slowing down. She cited broadcasters like Annie Nightingale, Steve Wright, and Johnnie Walker, who worked until the end. 'That's the joy of radio,' she said. 'You can keep on talking as long as you've got breath in your body. And as long as I have a microphone in front of me and someone wants me, I'll carry on doing it.'
