Davina McCall pays tribute to ‘matriarch of our family’

Davina McCall has paid tribute to her beloved grandmother following her death, saying “she was like a mother to me”.

The presenter, 50, hailed Pippy, who died aged 98, as “a rock”.

She wrote on Instagram: “Our lovely Pippy died peacefully in her sleep on Monday at 98 years old.

“She was the matriarch of our family. The glue that kept us all together. She was like a mother to me… and a rock for so many people in their times of need.”

The Long Lost Family host, who has spoken in the past of her difficult relationship with her own mother, wrote of her grandmother: “It’s thanks to her I’ve been raising money for Action Medical Research for 41 years, she was a fantastic role model.

“She was strong, kind, funny, cuddly, clever and she loved music and singing.

“She was a great mum, sister, auntie, grandma and a loving and loyal friend.

“She was phenomenally intuitive… she could really read people… and used to say ‘pippy knows’ and she did!”

The former Big Brother presenter and mother-of-three ended her message with the words “Love you Pippy”.