Love Island Winner Gabby Allen Discusses Father's Brain Tumour Loss on This Morning
In a deeply moving segment on Wednesday's edition of This Morning, former Love Island winner Gabby Allen opened up about the devastating impact of losing her father to a brain tumour. The 34-year-old reality TV star, who first rose to fame on the 2017 series of Love Island and later won Love Island: All Stars in 2025, shared her personal story to raise awareness about this aggressive form of cancer.
A Heartbreaking Diagnosis and Loss
Gabby revealed that her father, Mike, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive brain tumour in adults, when she was just 20 years old. Despite being a healthy man, his symptoms included tinnitus, confusion, and a seizure while driving, which initially led doctors to suspect late-onset epilepsy. It was only after her mother, Paula, insisted on further tests that a CT scan detected a mass on his frontal lobe.
"It kind of came out of nowhere," Gabby explained during the interview. "My dad was a really healthy man, so it was such a shock to the system." After undergoing surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, another mass was discovered at the back of his head. Although he was considered for clinical trials with the support of the charity Brainstrust, his condition had progressed too far. Tragically, Mike passed away just 10 months after diagnosis at the age of 54, dying in his wife's arms in a hospice.
Raising Awareness and Supporting Others
Joining Gabby on the This Morning sofa was Georgie Maynard, a mother-of-five who has been diagnosed with the same terminal brain tumour. Given just 12 to 18 months to live, Georgie has defied expectations by surviving for three years. Together, they emphasized the importance of raising awareness and improving outcomes for brain tumour patients.
Gabby highlighted the broader implications of her loss, noting that brain cancer is one of the biggest killers in children and adults under 40. "It's devastating to lose anyone, but when you are a young adult looking for advice, especially my brother, he was only 18 at the time too, it was awful," she said. Reflecting on her later years, she added, "I don't have my dad to ask about these things."
Key Points from the Interview
- Gabby Allen's father, Mike, was diagnosed with glioblastoma at age 53.
- He passed away 10 months later in a hospice, with his wife by his side.
- Symptoms included tinnitus, confusion, and a seizure, initially misdiagnosed as epilepsy.
- Gabby and guest Georgie Maynard used the platform to advocate for brain tumour awareness.
- Brain tumours remain a significant cause of death in younger populations.
The emotional interview underscored the personal toll of brain tumours and the urgent need for increased research and support. This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV X.
