ITV daytime staple Lorraine Kelly has stepped away from her self-titled show following the sudden death of her father, John Kelly, over the weekend. The 84-year-old great-grandfather died on Saturday morning after a fall on an icy path in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.
A Tragic Incident in Freezing Conditions
John Kelly was found injured at around 7am on Saturday by staff from a nearby Tesco store, who immediately called emergency services. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The tragedy occurred as the Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice across Scotland, with temperatures plunging below zero.
Lorraine, 66, announced the devastating news in a heartfelt Instagram post, mourning "the man who bought me a telescope when I was five years old." She described her father as someone who taught her to "always be curious" and shared that he had been in poor health, making his passing a shock to her and her brother, Graham.
Christine Lampard Steps In With Heartfelt Support
On Monday's edition of Lorraine, close friend and colleague Christine Lampard took over hosting duties, offering deep condolences on air. "Lorraine is spending some time with her family in Scotland, but we are all thinking of you Lorraine, and we will see you here very soon," Lampard told viewers.
The show of support extended to Good Morning Britain, where presenter Susanna Reid sent "enormous amounts of love" to Lorraine as she handed over to Christine for a preview of the show. The ITV daytime family has clearly rallied around the beloved presenter during this distressing time.
A Life Remembered and A Family's Request
John Kelly was married to Lorraine's mother for more than six decades. The couple had two children: Lorraine and her younger brother, Graham. In her statement, Lorraine emphasised that the family's priority is now caring for her mother and asked for privacy as they grieve.
Lorraine had previously spoken publicly about her father's health struggles, revealing in 2021 that he had heart failure and had survived a major lung infection initially feared to be cancer. She also spoke of the difficulty of being separated from her parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The presenter's absence comes amid changes to her show's schedule, with a reduction in episodes planned for the coming year. However, the focus remains squarely on the personal loss of a cherished father and grandfather, whose passion for curiosity profoundly shaped the star we see on screen.
