Lauren Laverne hosting previous Glastonbury coverage for the BBC
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Lauren Laverne’s tribute to her mum following her sudden death while star was at Glastonbury

Paid a moving tribute to her 'devoted and adored' mother Celia

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The One Show host Lauren Laverne previously shared her heartbreak following the sudden death of her mother Celia, and took a break from the spotlight to manage her grief.

The TV and radio presenter – on screen on The One Show tonight (June 11) – paid a moving tribute to her “devoted and adored” mum on Instagram back in June 2022 as she announced her death.

Sharing several images of herself and Celia, Lauren told followers that her family were “all utterly heartbroken”.

Lauren Laverne, Lauren Laverne Glastonbury, The One Show, Jermaine Jenas
Lauren Laverne is hosting The One Show alongside Jermaine Jenas tonight (Credit: BBC)

Instagram tribute to Lauren Laverne’s late mum

Lauren hailed Celia as “the kindest, most compassionate and most tenacious person” as she announced her passing.

Former Kenickie band member then Lauren detailed many aspects of teacher Celia’s life, including her own school days and how she met Lauren’s dad. Lauren continued: “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 went on: “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.”

Read more: The One Show’s Lauren Laverne – who is her husband and what famous band was she in?

Lauren also noted Celia’s love for history documentaries, adding: “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.”

Lauren concluded by thanking hospital staff for caring for Celia at the end of her life. “We are all utterly heartbroken to lose her,” Lauren wrote.

Final act of kindness

Lauren had been on Worthy Farm, ready to present the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage, when her mother died on the Friday.

The star – who then pulled out of her presenting duties – also revealed a kind gesture from Celia before her death.

The One Show host previously revealed: “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.”

Posting on Instagram in the days that followed, Lauren said she sent her husband and kids back off to the festival. She said it’s exactly what her mum would’ve wanted.

Catch Lauren on The One Show tonight (June 11) at 7pm on BBC One.

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Robert Leigh
Freelance writer