'I've no idea what might happen in 10 years': Katie Derham reflects on grief and not having a mother to discuss midlife issues and menopause
After losing her mum to early onset Alzheimer's, Katie Derham wishes she had someone close to her to help her through midlife challenges
After graduating from Cambridge university and starting her career in radio, Katie Derham went on to become one of TV's most beloved newscasters.
She joined ITV in 1998 and at the age of 27, became the youngest newscaster on British television and the youngest in ITN history.
Now aged 56, Katie is a presenter at BBC Radio 3, and known as "the face" of the BBC Proms coverage.
Turning 56 was also a poignant moment for the presenter, because her mother Margaret was the same age when she was sadly diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's.
Margaret died aged just 61, from complications of pancreatitis. Recently, Katie has shared insight into the grief she feels at her mother's passing, and the uncertainty she experienced for her own future after losing a parent to something that took them early.
She also expresses sorrow that she doesn't have anyone close to her to discuss midlife issues and menopause with, something she would've liked to do with her mum who could've given her advice.
Speaking to Ateh Jewel during an episode of the Second Act podcast, Katie shares that losing her mother to such a cruel disease "definitely changes you," and made her "more determined" to "carry on doing well."
"I've stopped being quite so angry as I was for many years," Katie says of her path through grief, adding, "she never met my second daughter, and she had such a bright and interesting mind."
She continues, "It seems particularly cruel. She was 61 when she died - that's nothing is it?" Her mother's early death made Katie feel as though she had to "step up" and be the "mother of the family."
Bringing the conversation around to menopause, Katie says of her mum, "I don't know how she responded to changes in midlife, because she was already ill by the time she was that age."
She continues, "I don't know how she responded to the menopause, I don't know what she was like as a young grandma - I don't know what she was like as an older grandma."
The presenter feels that it's a "bit odd that I don't have that modelling," to get a semblance of how she herself might've responded to these issues and been able to ask questions about her mum's experience of them.
She does still have her mother-in-law, whom she describes as "wonderful" and "amazing." However, despite her being the "most fantastic role model in the world," Katie says there's still so many gaps left by not having her own mother.
She feels this particularly keenly when asked for her medical history. "I've no idea what might've happened in the next 10 years," she says, adding, "because she [her mum] wasn't around."
Katie finishes with a message about what she's learned from losing her mum in such difficult circumstances.
"Don't waste time, go for it and try and enjoy it," she says of making the most of life. She concludes, "Just step back and enjoy these wonderful things that we're all doing, whether it's work or family - just enjoy it."
