Lauren Laverne has shared her devastation at the death of her mother Celia Gofton in an emotional post on Instagram, in which she said the family is "utterly heartbroken".
The 44-year-old BBC 6Music breakfast show host was due to present coverage of Glastonbury Festival on the BBC this weekend but she has now told her followers about the sad passing of her mum.
The DJ paid tribute to the "most compassionate and most tenacious person I have ever met" in the post, in which she shared several snaps of her mother along with the details of her life.
Lauren started her post on Instagram: "Yesterday I lost my Mam, Celia. She was the kindest, most compassionate and most tenacious person I have ever met."
She continued to write about her mum's life: "Born in the middle of nine kids, she was a master peacemaker and persuader. She passed her 11+ and went to grammar school which changed our family’s direction forever. Met my Dad at 16 and loved him every day of her life.
"She ran the only reggae club night in the NE and told me that being young in the 60s felt like that line in Mr Tambourine Man 'to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free'.
"She worked as a seamstress and a casino dancer (also making costumes for the troupe) to pay her way through college and became a wonderful teacher, eventually managing all Sunderland’s colleges."
Lauren continued with details of how her mum became politicised: "Somewhere along the line she had me and my brother and got political (she once chased someone from the BNP down our garden path with a rolling pin in one hand and me in the other arm) protested at Greenham Common and eventually became a city councillor.
"She delighted in helping people, especially those who like her knew what it was like to grow up without.
"She had watched so many decades of history documentaries that when we met historian Michael Wood they chatted away like colleagues."
Lauren went on to say how she was as a mother and grandmother.
The TV presenter continued: "She loved children and was the most devoted and adored mother and grandmother you could ever meet. But she also knew that mother is a verb as well as a noun and mothered so many others along the way who needed love and support throughout her life.
"She made connections wherever she went including with the incredible teams at UCLH who cared for her - and us - at the end of her life. Thank you to them for everything. We are all utterly heartbroken to lose her.
"She had just given the kids their Glastonbury spending money and was looking forward to watching Paulie (as he was always known in our house - her favourite Beatle) tonight.
"She’d been a fan ever since she saw him at the Sunderland Empire in 1963 (and later met him later with me - he was just lovely to her). Mam, I love you forever. Thank you for my fantastic life. I have no idea what I’m going to do without you, but I’m going to try to make it interesting and you will be in my heart, always XXX"
Myleene Klass shared her support, writing: " Lala. My heart is broken for you. I know how close you were and what she meant to you. I will forever see Celia sitting cuppa in hand on your sofa, next to your Dad, watching our babies play on the rug and listening to our news, cheering us all on when we needed it, holding our hands tightly and sitting in solidarity when we needed that more. She had so much love, kindness and patience to give and we are the richer for the time we knew and loved her.
"Love you Lala xxx"
While Fearne Cotton reached out to Lauren: "I’m so sorry Lauren. I’m sending you so much love"
Singer Sophie Ellis Bextor added: "Your Ma sounds like the most amazing woman. So sorry, Lauren. Sending lots of love xxx"
Comedian Alan Carr also sent his condolences, writing: "So so sorry Lauren. Thinking of you today"
Lauren shared her thanks on Twitter after tributes poured in on her Instagram post.
She tweeted: "I lost my Mam yesterday. I posted a little bit about her on Instagram because I want to acknowledge her amazing life, so that’s there. Here I’d just like to thank my truly astounding family, friends and colleagues for their support - especially lately. X"
Lauren was one of the main presenters for the BBC's Glastonbury Festival coverage this weekend and the broadcaster announced last night that she would not be appearing due to "personal reasons".
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