Loose Women star Charlene White shares heartbreaking tribute to dad after he takes his own life
Charlene urged her followers: 'Hug your parents close'.
Loose Women star Charlene White has revealed her dad, Denniston, took his own life after struggling with ‘a dark cloud he couldn’t lift’.
The 45-year-old presenter wrote a tribute on Instagram announcing his death, which happened two weeks ago.
She explained that as a family, they had made the decision ‘not to hide the circumstance’ of their loss.
Charlene described Denniston as ‘an amazing dad, stepdad, surrogate dad to many, friend, brother, grandad, uncle, cousin, and husband.’
She urged her followers: ‘Hug your parents close, and always tell them that you love them.
‘Because that’s sort of our job as children, the love them, no matter where the road eventually takes them.’
Charlene said her dad was struggling with ‘a dark cloud he couldn’t lift’ (Picture: Charlene White Instagram)The TV personality said he lived a ‘life full of love’, but said ‘sometimes the darkness is stronger, and heartbreakingly for all of us, he chose to keep what he was going through to himself.’
She added: ‘This post will no doubt prompt many of our friends who we haven’t managed to reach out to yet, to contact us.
‘Please don’t be offended by any calls and messages that remain unanswered for now. This kind of grief is new and unexpected and we’re still finding our way.’
As she explained in the post: ‘On Sunday we had the traditional Jamaican nine night, and the ancestors were right – it was the most perfect way to release our grief through food, dancing, drink… and joy, with hundreds of friends and family.’
She finished the post by pleading: ‘If you’re reading this and struggling, please talk to someone.’
Charlene’s followers expressed their condolences in the comments.
Fellow Loose Women star Jane Moore commented on Charlene’s post (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)Fellow Loose Women star, Coleen Nolan, commented: ‘Oh Charlene, so so sorry to hear this news… thinking of you and your family! Love you’.
Fred Sirieix from First Dates wrote: ‘I am so sorry. So sad. All the love.’
Jane Moore, another regular on Loose Women, also commented: ‘So sorry for your loss. Sending love.’
At the beginning of this year Charlene, 44, lost her best friend, Darrell, to Sarcoma cancer.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: ‘My heart is broken into a million pieces.’
The pair met when they were 16, and Charlene was the ‘best man at his wedding, and godmother to his eldest.’
In her emotional post about Darrell, Charlene said: ‘He was by far one of the kindest men I’ve ever met, and throughout his treatment he made it his mission to shine a light on Sarcoma alongside @sarcoma_uk in the hope no other family had to go through what he and his family went through’.
Darrell had been one of Charlene’s longest and best friends (Picture: @charlenewhite) Charlene said Darrell was ‘one of the kindest men’ she’s ever met (Picture @charlenewhite)The panel host has supported cancer charities throughout her career. In 2021, she supported the No Butts campaign, alongside Deborah James, who died of bowel cancer in 2022.
The ITV host’s own Mum, Dorrett, died from the disease at age 47. Dorrett was 43 at the time of her diagnosis, and Charlene was 16.
She has spoken about her Mum’s death publicly on ITV, both on Loose Women and Lorraine.
Charlene said she doesn’t want other families to have to go through what hers did, and lose a parent as a result of not spotting signs and going to the GP.
Need support?For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@ visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
Their HOPELINE247 is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. You can call 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email: pat@
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