“I Am in Mourning”: Lorraine Kelly Heartbroken as She Announces the Sudden D.e.a.t.h of Her Father at 84 — With His Passing at the Scene Deepening Her Pain
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has shared the devastating news that her beloved father, John Kelly, has died aged 84 — a loss she described as both expected and yet deeply shocking.
Taking to Instagram, Lorraine told followers she was “in mourning” as she paid an emotional tribute to the man who shaped her curiosity and love of learning. She wrote that her dad was the person who bought her a telescope when she was just five years old, watched the moon landings with her, and encouraged her to stay curious about the world.
Although John had been in poor health for some time, Lorraine admitted his death still came as a shock. She said that anyone who has experienced a similar loss would understand how she and her brother Graham are feeling, adding that their main focus now is caring for their mum and asking for privacy during an incredibly painful time.
Tributes quickly poured in from across the showbiz world, with close friends and colleagues offering their condolences. Ben Shephard said he was “so so sorry” and sent love to the whole family, while Charlotte Hawkins described the news as heartbreaking and sent her support. Craig David told Lorraine that her dad had always been her angel and would continue to watch over her, and Dawn French simply wrote that love was wrapped around her.
John Kelly, a former TV service engineer, had a lifelong passion for science and astronomy — interests he passed on to his daughter. He had been married to Lorraine’s mum Anne for more than 65 years, and together they raised Lorraine and her younger brother Graham.
Lorraine has previously spoken openly about her fear of losing her dad after he battled serious health issues, including heart failure and a major infection that once left doctors fearing the worst. She recalled how the family endured months believing they might lose him, before he made what she described as an incredible recovery.
In recent years, Lorraine also reduced her work commitments to help care for her mum Anne, who lives with nephrotic syndrome. Last year, the presenter also shared her own health scare with fans, revealing she had undergone preventative surgery after doctors found concerns during scans.
As she mourns her father, Lorraine reflected on her roots, having been born in Glasgow before the family later settled in East Kilbride — the place where her journey into journalism and television first began. For now, she and her family are focusing on one another as they navigate a profound and personal loss.