Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley revealed how she is now in a new phase of her life following the deaths of her close friends Steve Wright and Simon Willis.
The BBC star, 58, claimed to The Mirror that she is focusing on gardening and dealing with feelings about her own mortality following the deaths of her two close friends.
One thing she won’t be slowing down though is her passion for playing music as she prepares to DJ her biggest gig yet at the Isle of Wight festival in June.
She revealed: ‘My life is richer and I do different things now. I do gardening and everything else, but most of all I love the music I play and the work I do, so I don’t want to stop. I don’t know what I would do with myself.’
Jo also claimed she wants to ‘make an impact’ and give ‘Green Day a run for their money’ as they will be headlining on a different stage.
Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley revealed how she is now in a new phase of her life following the deaths of her close friends Steve Wright and Simon Willis
The BBC star, 58, claimed to The Mirror that she is focusing on gardening and dealing with feelings about her own mortality following the deaths of her two close friends
Jo also opened up about the major losses she has faced recently and how it completely ‘shook’ her to her core.
“We’ve lost a few people the same age as us who we thought would be our friends forever and we’d be 80 years old and still drinking vodka shots on Saturday nights.
She concluded: ‘But then suddenly, ‘bam’, they’re gone. And it was due to cancer, a brain tumor, Covid, different things. It really shakes you up and makes you realize that we are all vulnerable, that we won’t stay here forever.’
The exclusive interview comes after Jo told how the recent deaths of her close friends, including her BBC colleagues Steve Wright and Simon Willis, have forced her to rethink her lifestyle.
The 58-year-old veteran broadcaster has revealed how she cuts down on sugar, drinks less and exercises more to stay fit and healthy for her full-time job.
Jo, whose voice has been heard continuously on BBC radio since 1993, admits she never gets enough sleep but has made a series of lifestyle changes.
Tragically, it was the deaths of some of her closest friends in a short period of time that caused her health kick. “All our big players we were around have passed away,” she said The Telegraph.
One thing she won’t be slowing down though is her passion for playing music as she prepares to DJ her biggest gig yet at the Isle of Wight festival in June.
The exclusive interview comes after Jo told how the recent deaths of her close friends, including her BBC colleagues Steve Wright and Simon Willis, have forced her to rethink her lifestyle (Simon Willis pictured)
“So we have to be the host of the party, because all the children of all the dead people come to us. That’s a real downer, but it’s the real truth.’
In 2021, BBC Radio 1 producer Mr Willis died from a brain tumor, while a second friend lost his life to Covid and a third died after a battle with cancer.
“They were the ones we went out with and did a lot of fun things with, so all of a sudden you’re like, ‘What do we do now?’ she added.
Jo said grieving her friends has been a huge challenge, including the way her routines have completely changed.
She talked about waiting for her friends to arrive on Friday evening, adding: ‘And you just wait, look at the door and say, ‘oh no, he’s not coming over, no he’s dead, he’s not coming over anymore’ .
Jo claimed she still misses her friends dearly and is struggling to fill the ‘gaping holes’ they left behind.
Another recent loss is her Radio 2 DJ colleague Steve Wright, who died last month at the age of 69. After his shocking death, she wrote: ‘What a man. What a legend. The broadcaster’s broadcaster.
‘One of the nicest and sweetest people I have had the pleasure of working with. Thanks for the support and music chat over the years.
‘I can’t believe we won’t be meeting in the bowels of MV for our weekly catch-up. I love you Wrighty.”
Jo believes the deaths of her friends have made her determined to stay fit and healthy herself.
The former Radio 1 DJ uses a personal trainer to help her prepare for festivals, while she also goes swimming three or four times a week and runs a few times a week with her music director Steve Morton.
Despite admitting she’s not a natural runner and hates it, Jo believes keeping fit makes her body and mind feel stronger.
The DJ – who has also provided the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage since 1997 – even prepares for her performances where possible by stretching and swimming, as she suffered from pain in her neck and shoulders after performances.
The 58-year-old veteran broadcaster has revealed how she cuts down on sugar, drinks less and exercises more to stay fit and healthy for her full-time job
The health kick comes after Jo suffered another tragic loss after her Radio 2 DJ colleague Steve Wright died last month aged 69
Jo has also discovered that her alcohol tolerance has decreased as she has gotten older – and that she feels ‘horrible’ the next day if she drinks a third of vodka.
The broadcaster admitted that when she and her husband host parties at their Northamptonshire home – a converted 18th-century barn surrounded by fields – she is the one who cleans up while the party is at its height.
Jo also revealed that she has made a big change to her diet, mainly cutting out sugar and taking her vitamins.
Since January, Jo claims she has been trying to eat more vegetables, nuts and legumes and less sweet foods – something she is finding difficult.
And when DJ isn’t running, swimming, or eating good food, she often enjoys gardening in her spare time.
A typical weekend for Jo would be: swimming, going to breakfast, meeting her children, doing some gardening and then walking her dogs.
