Jo Whiley Struggles Amid Family Health Crisis

Jo Whiley has admitted she's been 'just trying to get through each day' as she opened up about her family's ongoing health struggles.

The Radio 2 presenter, 60, continues to enjoy a hugely successful career, juggling her radio show alongside two popular podcasts.

But away from the spotlight, Jo has been dealing with difficult personal challenges as her family face a series of health issues.

In the September issue of Woman & Home, she revealed that 'things have been hard on a personal level lately,' but are 'better than they were'.

She explained: 'My mum had a back operation over , and for a long time, all I was doing was going to the hospital and sitting with Mum and Dad. That became my whole world.

'Dad has Parkinson's, and it was just about getting through each day and being there for them.'

She also reflected on a podcast episode she recorded over the festive period, admitting it was 'really hard' as she spoke about the realities of caring for her ageing parents and supporting her sister, Frances, who has cri du chat syndrome, a rare genetic disorder.

Jo continued: 'Talking about the practical level of having a sibling with learning disabilities is really important too. 

'My parents listened to my podcast when I talked about what a nightmare Christmas was, so I got a warning from them about sharing too much, and I have to respect that. 

'I also got told off by my mum for swearing, and that was a learning curve!'

Sharing her thoughts on manifestation, Jo admitted she doesn't believe in it, saying she feels that 'life just happens'.

She explained: 'You work hard, and you try to create opportunities for yourself. 

'We went through a couple of really difficult situations and people kept saying, "You need to manifest the outcome you want."

'I remember thinking, "Actually, this is about medical science, not manifesting."

'Sometimes terrible things happen, and life is hard. What worries me is that manifestation can leave people feeling as if they've somehow failed. 

'You start thinking, "Maybe I didn't manifest hard enough." Sometimes things happen that are outside of your control. Having goals works for me. 

'If there's something you want to do, work towards it. Put yourself in situations where opportunities might happen. 

'Be proactive and create what you want. I've learnt to be grateful, and that's the most important thing for me.'

Elsewhere Jo opened up about finding time for herself in her busy schedule and getting back into exercise after finding herself in 'crisis mode'.

She said: 'When life got busy, exercise and seeing my friends were the first things to go. 

What really surprised me was how quickly my body changed when I didn't have time to exercise. I wasn't looking after myself in the way I normally would. 

'I could see myself losing muscle tone and I remember looking in the mirror and thinking, "Whose body is this? I don't recognise it." That really shocked me. 

'When you're in crisis mode, you stop noticing those things because all your energy is focused somewhere else. Self-care is so important. Friends say that exercise keeps them sane, and I agree. 

'For me, it isn't about how you look, it's about feeling like yourself again, those endorphins flowing, and having a little bit of time that's just for you. 

'I did a half marathon recently, which was stupid when I hadn't trained, but it made me realise how much I hate not exercising and what an unhappy person it makes me.

'Now I'm back doing weights and swimming, and it helps my head so much.'

The September issue of woman&home is on sale 23rd July 2026