Tom tells how he held dying father’s hand
OLYMPIC diver Tom Daley has told how he held his dad’s hand as he died, and said death had taken his “biggest cheerleader”.
Tom, 24, who was 17 at the time, said he thought dad Robert was “invincible” until he died aged 40 from brain cancer a year before London’s Olympics.
On Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, broadcast today at 11.15am, he tells how he went home to find Robert “in a hospital bed in the living room”.
He added: “I was holding his hand as he stopped breathing. I finally acknowledged he wasn’t invincible, that he wasn’t going to be there.”
Tom and his husband Dustin Lance Black called their son, born to a surrogate in June, Robert Ray after Tom’s father.
She’s overcome mental battles that saw her become a recluse and confronted insecurities over the way she looked.
And despite coming bottom of the leaderboard on last week’s show, she insists that she’s having the time of her life.
“It’s been tiring, exhilarating and empowering,” she said. “An emotional roller coaster but fantastic.”
Susannah, 56, was awarded the lowest score in Strictly history last Saturday, with Craig Revel Horwood calling her dance with partner Anton Du Beke one of the worst the show has ever witnessed.
But she says the pressure and criticism has not brought back the dark days she endured as she battled severe anxiety.
“The only time we are in tears is through laughter,” mum-of-three Susannah said.
Feeling stronger and more confident ahead of last night’s dance, the presenter said she’s already noticing changes in herself thanks to Strictly.
“I feel that I am able to remember steps a little bit more this time.
“I am definitely getting fitter and the next day I feel strong.
“I am miles away from Debbie McGee,
Quite often I wake full of fear and I don’t know why. I’ve had it all my life. Dancing helps SUSANNAH ON FEARS SHE WOULD BE DIAGNOSED WITH MANIC DEPRESSION