Former BBC News anchor Kate Silverton has announced the death of her beloved mother, Patricia, at the age of 83, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. The Strictly Come Dancing star shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram, expressing that she had been "holding her breath for a very long time."
A Brave Fight
Patricia, who also served as Kate's manager, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last summer. Initially choosing to forgo treatment, she later discovered a clinical trial and decided to participate. Kate, 55, wrote: "At 83, having chemotherapy and immunotherapy was no mean feat, but mum showed incredible bravery and stoicism as she returned each week for treatment."
Patricia underwent the treatment not only to gain more time with her family but also to help others in similar circumstances. Despite initial success, she passed away on April 8.
A Complex Relationship Healed
Kate, who has retrained as a child therapist, acknowledged that her relationship with her mother had been "complex" in earlier decades. She credited therapy for healing those wounds and allowing them to forge a beautiful bond in later years. "I attribute therapy to being able to heal the wounds that existed – and for being able to love my mum – and come to enjoy a great sense of peace and understanding between us," she said.
Remembering her mother fondly, Kate wrote: "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’." She concluded: "Fly well mum and give dad a big kiss from us all." Kate's father, Terry, died of liver and bone cancer in 2015.
A Life in the Spotlight
Kate Silverton studied Psychology at Durham University before becoming a journalist. She joined BBC News in 2007 and went on to present the BBC News at Six, News at Ten, and Panorama. In 2018, she participated in Strictly Come Dancing, finishing in eighth place with professional dancer Aljaz Skorjanec.
The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call 0808 808 0000.
