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| This Morning agony aunt Denise Robertson dies | This Morning agony aunt Denise Robertson dies |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Denise Robertson, resident agony aunt for ITV's This Morning, has died aged 83, the show has said. | Denise Robertson, resident agony aunt for ITV's This Morning, has died aged 83, the show has said. |
| She revealed in February that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. | She revealed in February that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. |
| The programme posted the news on its Twitter account, writing: "Such sad news - our friend and colleague Denise Robertson has lost her short but determined battle against cancer." | The programme posted the news on its Twitter account, writing: "Such sad news - our friend and colleague Denise Robertson has lost her short but determined battle against cancer." |
| Robertson, from Sunderland, had been with the programme since it began in 1988. | Robertson, from Sunderland, had been with the programme since it began in 1988. |
| Robertson's family said in a statement read out on the show that it was "with the deepest possible sorrow" they announced the passing of "a very great lady". | Robertson's family said in a statement read out on the show that it was "with the deepest possible sorrow" they announced the passing of "a very great lady". |
| "The world has lost an extraordinary woman," they said. | "The world has lost an extraordinary woman," they said. |
| 'Warm-hearted and wise' | 'Warm-hearted and wise' |
| This Morning presenter Ruth Langsford led the tributes on the programme, announcing the "terribly sad news" about "our beloved Denise". | This Morning presenter Ruth Langsford led the tributes on the programme, announcing the "terribly sad news" about "our beloved Denise". |
| Colleague Holly Willoughby said: "Whatever she did on screen, it was the tip of the iceberg really, because she continued to help people behind the scenes. | Colleague Holly Willoughby said: "Whatever she did on screen, it was the tip of the iceberg really, because she continued to help people behind the scenes. |
| "She was a real fighter for everybody." | "She was a real fighter for everybody." |
| Presenter Phillip Schofield said the news was "absolutely heartbreaking". | Presenter Phillip Schofield said the news was "absolutely heartbreaking". |
| Statement from Denise Robertson's family | |
| It is with the deepest possible sorrow that we announce the passing of a very great lady. Our dearest Denise Robertson lost her short battle with cancer today at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. | |
| We send our gratitude to the many thousands of people who have sent messages of love, support and prayers during these difficult weeks, these sustained and delighted her immeasurably. | |
| The care Denise received from Professor Cunningham, Dr Tait and all the staff at the hospital was above and beyond anything we could have hoped for. | |
| The world has lost an extraordinary woman. We know that her ITV family, the This Morning viewers and the incalculable numbers of people she has helped and causes she has championed during her 83 years, will be grieving with us at this intensely painful time. | |
| Former colleague Richard Madeley, who presented the show with wife Judy Finnigan from 1988 to 2001, told the BBC that Robertson "was probably the best agony aunt in the business". | Former colleague Richard Madeley, who presented the show with wife Judy Finnigan from 1988 to 2001, told the BBC that Robertson "was probably the best agony aunt in the business". |
| "What very few people will know, the viewers certainly won't know this, is that when a show was over Denise would stay in the phone-in room sometimes for hours, well into the afternoon, talking to people, who hadn't been able to get on the air or continuing to counsel people who had," he said. | "What very few people will know, the viewers certainly won't know this, is that when a show was over Denise would stay in the phone-in room sometimes for hours, well into the afternoon, talking to people, who hadn't been able to get on the air or continuing to counsel people who had," he said. |
| "She'd give up so much of her time and she made a difference. She was a truly, truly, wonderful, warm-hearted and wise woman." | "She'd give up so much of her time and she made a difference. She was a truly, truly, wonderful, warm-hearted and wise woman." |
| Robertson's This Morning colleagues continue to pay tribute on Twitter. | |
| Sharon Marshall tweeted: "I loved you my darling Denise. Thankyou for days shrieking with laughter, the gin, the gossip and the friendship." | |
| Rylan Clark-Neal tweeted: "Devastated. The nicest and kindest woman in tele. Will miss her so much. She'll always be the only woman for me." | |
| Finance expert Martin Lewis wrote: "No! A wonderful lady. Even behind scenes like a rottweiler helping those who got in touch - making many lives better." | |
| Stylist Gok Wan tweeted: "The saddest news of the beautiful Denise passing. RIP darling and I'm sorry we never got to make that beautiful coat you wanted X" | |
| In a statement read out by This Morning presenter Ruth Langsford in mid-February, Robertson said her diagnosis had come as a surprise but she did not plan to "give up without a fight". | In a statement read out by This Morning presenter Ruth Langsford in mid-February, Robertson said her diagnosis had come as a surprise but she did not plan to "give up without a fight". |
| She also thanked the viewers of the show who had been concerned about her health. | She also thanked the viewers of the show who had been concerned about her health. |
| Her popularity on the show led to her being offered her own TV show, Dear Denise, in 2000, and she was appointed an MBE in 2006 for services to broadcasting and to charity. | Her popularity on the show led to her being offered her own TV show, Dear Denise, in 2000, and she was appointed an MBE in 2006 for services to broadcasting and to charity. |
| In 2002 she appeared as a relationship and love expert on Dave Gorman's Important Astrology Experiment. | In 2002 she appeared as a relationship and love expert on Dave Gorman's Important Astrology Experiment. |
| The agony aunt was also a regular fixture on Channel 5's Big Brother's Bit On The Side. | The agony aunt was also a regular fixture on Channel 5's Big Brother's Bit On The Side. |
| She also had her own advice website and wrote a column for Candis magazine. | She also had her own advice website and wrote a column for Candis magazine. |
| Robertson lost her first husband Alex Robertson to lung cancer in 1972, but kept his surname when she remarried. | Robertson lost her first husband Alex Robertson to lung cancer in 1972, but kept his surname when she remarried. |
| In 2006 her stepson, John, also died of cancer, at the age of 44. | In 2006 her stepson, John, also died of cancer, at the age of 44. |
| Did Denise Robertson help you solve a problem? Share your stories and memories with us. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Did Denise Robertson help you solve a problem? Share your stories and memories with us. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |