Nearly eighteen months after the tragic death of beloved TV doctor Michael Mosley, his wife Dr Clare Bailey Mosley has shared a heartbreaking update on her grief, revealing she still finds the word 'widow' difficult to say.
A Tragic Loss on Symi
The couple were enjoying a holiday on the Greek island of Symi in June 2024 when the 67-year-old physician and broadcaster decided to take a solitary walk to a neighbouring town. When he failed to return, a major search operation was launched. His body was discovered four days later in a rocky area close to the Agia Marina resort.
A post-mortem examination could not establish a definitive cause of death. An inquest later recorded that the cause was 'unascertainable', most likely attributable to either heat stroke or an unidentified pathological cause.
Navigating Life as a Widow
In a candid interview, Clare admitted she is still considering counselling to help process her unexpected bereavement. "I feel I need to have time to do it," she told the Telegraph, adding she would go when she was ready, not just because others suggested it.
She has, however, built her own informal support network. "I do have friends I see. There are two other [widowed] women nearby so we often meet up," she shared. "We call ourselves 'the three merry widows'. Although I don't use the word 'widow' unless I have to. I feel a bit awkward about the word itself. It just reminds me of what I've lost."
Continuing Michael Mosley's Legacy
Dr Clare Bailey Mosley and her son, Jack, who is also a doctor, have channelled their grief into continuing Michael's pioneering work in health and nutrition. Together they have authored three books: Food Noise, Eating Together, and The Fast 800 Favourites.
"Michael would have been so proud of Jack," Clare told Good Housekeeping. "And I'm incredibly proud of how the family came together after we lost him, because it was a really traumatic experience. But we all pulled together."
She also shared a lighter, more personal memory, revealing that despite being a respected authority on healthy eating, Michael had a sweet tooth. "He used to ask me to hide chocolate quite regularly," she recalled. "I still find chocolate in the broom cupboard!"
Jack added that his father's health advice was born from personal experience, having reversed his own type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2012 through dietary changes and fasting. "He lost 10 kilos during the filming of that program. And he was able to keep it off over the next 10-15 years through fasting," Jack explained.
