This Morning agony aunt Denise Robertson dies aged 83 after cancer battle

Updated

This Morning's agony aunt Denise Robertson has died aged 83 following a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Her co-presenter Phillip Schofield led tributes to her, saying he was "heartbroken", while fellow host Holly Willoughby said Robertson was "quite simply one of life's good ones".

Sharing a photo of them together on Twitter, Willoughby added: "Yesterday we lost this gorgeous lady after her brave fight with cancer... We will miss her deeply."

The ITV show confirmed the news with a tweet which read: "Such sad news - our friend and colleague Denise Robertson has lost her short but determined battle against cancer."

In mid-February, Robertson confirmed she had been diagnosed with cancer.

In a statement read on the show at the time by presenter Ruth Langsford, she explained "a persistent health issue" had "turned into something quite a lot bigger".

The statement from Robertson added: "I've been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

"It has come as a surprise to me and my family but we know that many others have suffered and dealt with this condition and I don't plan to give up without a fight.

"My doctor is referring me for chemotherapy and hopefully that will start soon."

Robertson, from Sunderland, joined This Morning for its first broadcast in 1988.

She also had her own advice website and wrote a column for Candis magazine.

Her popularity on This Morning led to her being offered her own TV show in 2000, called Dear Denise.

In 2002 she appeared as a relationship and love expert on Dave Gorman's Important Astrology Experiment.

She was also a regular fixture on Channel 5's Big Brother's Bit On The Side.

She lost her first husband Alex to lung cancer in 1972, and in 2006 her stepson John also died of cancer, at the age of 44.

ITV said Friday's This Morning will pay tribute to Robertson.

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