Kate Silverton reveals best friend’s tragic death prompted her to begin journalism career
STRICTLY star Kate Silverton has told how her best friend's tragic death prompted her to begin a career in journalism.
The 48-year-old star felt compelled to embark on her dream when her best friend Jamie died from pancreatic cancer when she was 26.
Kate told : "It was Jamie who made me go into journalism. I was working in corporate finance but was rubbish at figures.
"I remember him lying there, hooked up to his medication saying, 'I don't have long – you need to live your life loving every minute of it'."
She said his words stayed with her and affected all decisions in her life, adding: "I don't make decisions any more based on fear. When I accepted Strictly I did it for joy."
The star also admitted she hears her late father's voice encouraging her to do well when she dances on the BBC show.
The BBC newsreader feels the presence of her dad Terry Silverton, who worked as a black-cab driver and hypnotherapist before he died of lung, liver and bone cancer in 2015.
Former school swimming champ Kate, who is partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec, told the : "My dad Terry, a salt of the earth London cabbie, used to take me swimming and when I was very nervous before a race he would give me a pep talk.
“‘Come on, girl,’ he used to say. I can hear his voice now.”
She added: “He would have loved the Viennese waltz.”
The Strictly Come Dancing star wowed viewers last week as she battled through a rib injury to perform.
Kate bravely took on the Argentine Tango with Alijaz despite her "stripping the muscle from her rib" in rehearsals.
Viewers were full of praise for her gumption, with one writing: "Kate ‘stripped a muscle off a rib’!!! Ouch! What a trooper #Strictly"
A second added: "I will give Kate her due doing that after a rib injury. She did well."
Kate grew up with her parents and two sisters before graduating from Durham University.
Kate worked for a London bank before training with the BBC to become a journalist, working on Look North news before turning to reporting and presenting at Tyne Tees Television.
She has been working for the BBC since around 2005 and has worked across many news shows including BBC Breakfast.
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Kate married Mike Heron in 2010 and the couple have two children.
Kate has been married since 2010 to former Royal Marine Mike Heron, and will be hoping to escape the infamous Strictly curse.
She revealed that she slipped back into her wedding dress for her husband after dropping two dress sizes thanks to the gruelling training.
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