Gemma Collins has said her heart is ‘shattered into a million pieces’ as she shared the news that her mum Joan has died.
The Only Way is Essex star, 45, previously told followers how her mum, 70, had been diagnosed with pneumonia twice in the last six months.
Collins penned a heartfelt tribute on Instagram on Wednesday night, saying that the former hairdresser, who was beloved by fans of the ITV reality show, had died that day.
She wrote: ‘My heart is shattered into a million pieces. Today our beautiful mum passed away peacefully surrounded by LOVE. Mum, today, every piece of my heart left with you.
‘No words will ever be enough to thank you for loving me, guiding me, and being my mum. You gave me life, you gave me strength, and you gave me memories that I will carry for every day I have left.
‘The house will never sound the same without you. Your voice, your smile, your little ways, they are woven into every corner of my life.’
Collins went on to say that she would miss her mum ‘more than she could put into words’ and suggested that health woes in recent months had left Joan with limited mobility.
She continued: ‘I hope you are finally free from pain. I hope you can walk again, laugh again, and feel light. I hope you are surrounded by peace and by everyone who has gone before you, watching over us with love.
‘Thank you for every hug, every sacrifice, every lesson, and every moment. Thank you for being my mum. It has been the greatest privilege to be your daughter.
‘Until we meet again, I will carry your love with me. I will look for you in the sunrise, in the flowers, in the birds singing, and in the quiet moments when I need you most. Sleep peacefully, my beautiful Mum.
‘You will be loved forever, missed every single day, and never, ever forgotten.’
In the comments section underneath the post, Collins was inundated with well-wishers, including from Elton John, who wrote: ‘So sad to hear. Our thoughts are with you and your family,’ and Stormzy, who commented a string of heart emojis.
Fellow I’m A Celebrity alum Lisa Riley wrote: ‘My heart breaks for you. Our Mums went to heaven on exactly the same day.’
Megan McKenna said her ‘heart breaks’ for Collins, while Amy Childs commented ‘what a beautiful lady her mum was’.
Dani Dyer wrote: ‘Oh Gemma I’m so so sorry, thinking of you,’ while Lauren Goodger commented: ‘So sorry Gem. Thinking of you and sending you so much love my darling, thinking of you all xx.’
In November, Collins asked fans to pray for her mum, who had been hospitalised with pneumonia, in what she described as ‘the toughest week’ of her life.
In May the year before, Joan was rushed to hospital after she ‘stopped breathing’ following a breast cancer scare, which prompted Collins to get screened.
At the time, Collins said she had been warned to ‘prepare for the worst’, but her mum pulled through.