Holly Willoughby is left ‘heartbroken’ after tragic death in the family
HOLLY Willoughby and her sister Kelly have shared their heartache after the death of their uncle Ray.
Kelly, who is extremely close to her younger TV star sibling, took to Instagram today to share the sad news.
She wrote: “Sleep deep Uncle Ray. We are heartbroken to say goodbye so soon.
“Thank you for all the love and the laughs. The kids will forever remember you turning up, taking your hat off and watching with glee as packets of Haribo dropped to the floor. We will miss you so much.”
Holly, 42, simply commented with a broken heart emoji.
Family friend Nicole Appleton said: “So sorry darling sending love xx.”
This Morning chef Clodagh McKenna posted: “Sending so much love to all your family. May he rest in peace.”
Tamzin Outhwaite shared: “So sorry Kelly. Sending you all love and light.”
The Willoughby sisters work together on lifestyle brand Wylde Moon, which Holly founded in late summer 2021, with Kelly in the role of managing director.
The family’s grief comes as a close friend of Holly’s told the Mail that the TV star was advised by bosses to dress a certain way while working on kids’ TV earlier in her career, sparking a new misogyny row.
They said: “Before I knew who Holly even was, I saw her without a bra on and asked a director who she was and why she was dressed like that.
“I said she needs to get a bra on, it was children’s television.
“I reminded Holly of it sometime later and she said they made her not wear a bra, that the shows weren’t actually for children.
Mum-of-three Holly began her TV career by appearing on S Club TV and Ministry of Mayhem.
She became a household name in 2006 when she began hosting Dancing On Ice with Phillip Schofield.
Three years later she landed her dream job when she was hired to co-host This Morning alongside Schofield, following the departure of Fern Britton.
She is now one of the most sought-after television hosts in the UK and was crowned British TV’s most powerful woman presenter earlier this year.