Former BBC News anchor Kate Silverton has announced the death of her mother, Patricia, at the age of 83 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Patricia passed away on April 8, as revealed by Silverton in an Instagram post.
Silverton, 55, who joined BBC News in 2007 and later appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, shared that her mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last summer. Initially choosing to forgo treatment, Patricia later opted to participate in a clinical trial involving chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Silverton described her mother's bravery and stoicism during the weekly treatments, noting that Patricia took part partly to gain more time and to help others in similar situations.
Reflecting on their relationship, Silverton acknowledged it had been complex but credited therapy with healing old wounds and allowing them to forge a beautiful bond in later years. She expressed gratitude for the time they had and remembered her mother's laugh, sense of style, intelligence, and energy.
Silverton concluded her tribute with a message to her mother: 'Fly well mum and give dad a big kiss from us all.' Her father, Terry, died of liver and bone cancer in 2015. Silverton, who has two sisters, retrained as a child therapist after leaving BBC News.
