Jo Whiley has revealed that her 'lovely' dad Martin has passed away.

The radio and TV presenter, 61, shared the devastating news in an emotional statement just weeks after sharing an update regarding his Parkinson's disease diagnosis.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Jo posted a series of happy snaps and clips of her dad throughout the years.

Alongside the post, she penned: 'My lovely Dad died today.

'He was the kindest man, who lived solely to make others happy. He was supremely selfless and loved nothing more than caring for others and making people laugh.

'I've had so many messages today saying that 'Martin was a character' and that sums him up completely. Everyone knew Martin Whiley - in the Pub, in his Village and at the school gates when he picked up my children (he was the BEST Manny EVER long before they became trendy).'

Jo Whiley has revealed that her 'lovely dad' has passed away on Instagram on Wednesday

The radio and TV presenter, 61, shared the devastating news in an emotional statement just weeks after sharing an update regarding his Parkinson's disease diagnosis

She went on to thank her dad for her love of music, saying he would walk around the building site where he worked as an electrician with a huge ghetto blaster.

The star called him the 'OG DJ' and applauded him for his passion for music.

Jo continued: 'His childhood was as sad as it gets. When he was a boy he had TB and was sent alone to a sanitarium in London for 2 years which is why we're all Spurs fans! From a young age he had no parents and was brought up by a family friend, his beloved Pap.

'Meeting my Mum meant that Dad got a family of his own and finally got to experience love. Knowing how it felt not to be cared for, he devoted his life to caring for others.

'Being the father of someone with Learning Disabilities in the 70's meant that life has had its challenges but Dad has been such a force for good in the LD world simply by embracing \& loving everyone with a difference.

'So many great singalongs at the Rockin' Roadrunner with Dad on the mic.

Taking to Instagram, Jo posted a series of happy snaps and clips of her dad throughout the years

She called her dad 'the kindest man'

Jo's post was flooded with condolences from her celebrity pals

'He may have had the saddest childhood but he triumphed by giving me, Frances, and his grandchildren the happiest childhoods anyone could have dreamt of. He was the greatest Dad and he was everybody's favourite Grandad, but especially to India , Jude, Cass and Coco who adored him.

'Ps. From Frances - thanks for the endless stories, night after night, all night long. We're going to miss you so very much. You absolute legend xx.'

Jo's post was flooded with condolences from her celebrity pals.

Fearne Cotton wrote: 'Love and strength to you today Jo. We are all here for you. Love you.'

Davina McCall said: 'Oh Jo x sending you all love,' while Denise Van Outen added: 'Sorry for your loss.'

His passing comes just days after Jo admitted she's been 'just trying to get through each day' as she opened up about her family's ongoing health struggles.

The BBC Radio 2 presenter continues to enjoy a hugely successful career, juggling her radio show alongside two popular podcasts.

But away from the spotlight, Jo has been dealing with difficult personal challenges as her family face a series of health issues.

In the September issue of Woman \& Home, she revealed that 'things have been hard on a personal level lately,' but are 'better than they were'.

She explained: 'My mum had a back operation over Christmas, and for a long time, all I was doing was going to the hospital and sitting with Mum and Dad. That became my whole world.

'Dad has Parkinson's, and it was just about getting through each day and being there for them.'

Jo also shared an update on her father's battle with Parkinson's disease, saying that 'everyday is like Groundhog Day'.

Speaking about her father condition on her Dig It podcast, she said that her father had recently been reluctant to take his medication.

'I just don't feel I need to take them.' And a whole room full of us were going, 'No, Dad, you really do. You've got Parkinson's.' You do. And then he went, 'But doesn't Parkinson's just go away?'

She described it as a 'heartbreaking moment', as she told her father that the disease is incurable.

'Every day it's like Groundhog Day. You have the same conversations over and over again.'

Parkinson’s disease affects one in 500 people, and around 127,000 people in the UK live with the condition.

Figures also suggest one million Americans also suffer.

It causes muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, tremors, sleep disturbance, chronic fatigue, an impaired quality of life and can lead to severe disability.

It is a progressive neurological condition that destroys cells in the part of the brain that controls movement.

Sufferers are known to have diminished supplies of dopamine because nerve cells that make it have died.

There is currently no cure and no way of stopping the progression of the disease, but hundreds of scientific trials are underway to try and change that.

The disease claimed the life of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in 2016 and Ozzy Osbourne in 2025.