Zoe Ball bereft as she announces mum’s death after cancer diagnosis [Video]

Zoe Ball has announced the death of her ‘dear Mama’, Julia Peckham, after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The radio DJ, who had previously taken time off her BBC show to look after her, revealed her mother had been moved to hospice care last week.

Taking to Instagram in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Zoe wrote: ‘Sleep tight dear Mama.’

She added: ‘Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy, and how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts.

‘We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other. Your grace & your smile that lit up every room you were in, will light the stars to guide us.’

Alongside her message, she shared a picture of Peckham as a young woman, leaning over a handrail as she sat on a bridge, dressed in …