BROADCASTING legend Sir Terry Wogan’s widow Lady Helen has passed away, their son has confirmed.
Mark Wogan shared a black and white image of his parents on Instagram on Thursday with the caption: “Lady Helen Wogan – 1936-2024.”
However, he did not confirm the cause of his mother’s death.
He said: “Our beautiful Mum left us last night after a fantastic life. From a young Irish rose to Lady Wogan , she was the epitome of style and grace.
“A Mother, Grandmother and Wife, with love and kindness at her core.
“A strength and a belief that saw her through many of life’s trials.
“A sense of humour and a turn of phrase that would have you in fits of laughter.
“A proper lady in every sense of the word. Her and Dad are hopefully sharing a vodka martini and hoping we don’t make too much of fuss.
“We love you Mum, now and forever.”
Among the celebrities to send their condolences in response were presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Eamonn Holmes, and singer Ronan Keating.
Clarkson said: “Horrible when it happens. Thinking of you.”
Holmes also wrote: “Mark , so sorry to hear. What a woman and what a couple . My sincere condolences to you.”
Keating added: “Sending love matey. God bless ya all.”
Mark – who hosts podcast Spooning with Mark Wogan – added a second post saying “As beautiful on the inside” with a collection of photos.
Lady Helen, from Rathmines, a suburb in Dublin – née Joyce – was a top model in her native Ireland in the early 1960s.
She married Sir Terry in 1965.
Sir Terry – a radio and TV broadcaster who worked for the BBC for most of his career – was at the time presenting Jackpot on Teilifís Éireann and he also had the Radio Éireann show, Terry Awhile.
Between 1993 and his semi-retirement in December 2009, his BBC Radio 2 weekday breakfast show drew in eight million listeners.
Often referred to as a ‘national treasure’, his TV work included hosting Children in Need and the UK’s coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest from 1971 to 2008.
He was knighted in 2005 after acquiring British citizenship the same year.
Lady Helen and Sir Terry married in her local parish church, Our Lady of Refuge, Rathmines, in April 1965.
The Irish Independent reported: “The couple were besieged by well-wishers as they emerged and, despite the rain, paused to meet his fans who swarmed around the glamorous pair.
“Dressed in a traditional morning suit, he carried a grey top hat and Helen wore a pillbox headpiece with long veil and slimline dress.”
The couple honeymooned in one of Spain’s then up-and-coming resorts – Torremolinos.
They lived together in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, and also had a second home in Gascony, southwestern France.
The couple had four children and five grandchildren.
Sir Terry’s health declined after Christmas 2015 and died of cancer on January 31 2016 at home, aged 77.
