BBC presenter Sophie Raworth has been leading the nation through the emotional VE Day 80th anniversary commemorations this week—but behind the scenes, she’s been quietly dealing with the heartbreaking loss of her beloved father.
Just days before she took to the screen to host the BBC’s VE Day concert coverage, Sophie’s father, Richard, passed away following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He died peacefully earlier this week, the family confirmed.
In a touching statement, Sophie’s family described Richard as “a man with a big heart, heaps of kindness and tenacity.” He was a businessman, a jazz bass player, a passionate gardener, and a loving father. “We will miss him always,” they said.
Despite her personal pain, Sophie has remained professional and composed throughout the week’s broadcasts, showing remarkable strength while guiding viewers through the historic celebrations.
Back in 2021, Sophie spoke about her father’s illness, describing Parkinson’s as a “horrible disease,” but admiring how he faced it with unwavering humour and grace. That same year, she ran a charity race in his honour. “This run is for you,” she told him.
Sophie, who joined the BBC in 1992, is also a mother of three: Ella, Oliver, and Georgia, whom she shares with husband Richard Winter. She previously spoke about how having children brought her even closer to her parents, especially her mother Jenny, who couldn’t bear to be apart from her granddaughter Ella for more than a few days.
Though Sophie continues her public role with grace, those who know her understand she is carrying a quiet sorrow behind the camera.
