The funeral of much-loved TV agony aunt Denise Robertson will take place in Sunderland today (Wednesday, April 13).
The service will be held in Sunderland Minster at 1pm and will be conducted by The Rev Canon Provost Sheila Bamber, followed by a private burial.
This Morning stars Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, and previous presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan all paid tribute after she died earlier this month at the age of 83 from pancreatic cancer.
Mr Schofield said on Twitter:
Hello Sunderland, what a shame to be here under such sad circumstances, but I’m sure we’ll give our Denise a fitting send off
— Phillip Schofield (@Schofe) April 12, 2016
Mrs Robertson played a crucial part in the popularity of the ITV programme This Morning from its first broadcast in 1988.
Her warm but no-nonsense approach led her to be dubbed the matriarch of the show, and her popularity meant she was offered her own programme in 2000, called Dear Denise.
She made several guest appearances on other TV programmes and was a regular fixture on Channel 5’s Big Brother’s Bit On The Side.
She was widowed twice – losing first husband Alex to cancer in 1972 and then Jack to a stroke in 1995. She also lost her 44-year-old stepson John to cancer in 2006.
The great-grandmother was awarded an MBE a decade ago and given the freedom of the City of Sunderland.