Blue Peter star Diane-Louise Jordan’s husband of 16 years Giles Broadbent dies aged 51
Giles Broadbent – the husband of former Blue Peter star Diane-Louise Jordan – has passed away aged 51 following a short illness.
Giles, who was part of the Stringfever quartet and played the violin, had been ‘unwell’ in the months prior to his death, it was confirmed on Thursday.
The statement, released by his band, said: ‘Although Giles had not been well recently, we as a family are still in shock at his passing. The band will be taking a break whilst we make funeral arrangements.’
Diane-Louise, 63, and Giles had been married for 16 years after tying the knot in 2007. They have a daughter, Justine, previously Diane-Louise’s niece, but whom she adopted when her sister died unexpectedly.
Giles Broadbent – the husband of former Blue Peter star Diane-Louise Jordan – has passed away aged 51 following a short illness
Married life: Diane-Louise, 63, and Giles had been married for 16 years after tying the knot in 2007
Former Songs of Praise presenter Diane has previously gushed over her ‘magnificent’ husband who she called a ‘genius violinist’.
On the band’s website, Giles described himself as ‘young at heart’ and revealed his love for the ‘buzz of performing live shows’.
Speaking to Sheer Luxe last year, she said: ‘We share similar values, even though we’re quite different people – I’m much more of an introvert and Giles loves the house to be busy and full of people.
‘He’s also a musician, so he’s very expressive too.’
The couple, who met in 2006, enjoyed a whirlwind romance before marrying just a year later.
During his career, Giles led some major orchestras for some much-loved West End shows including Phantom Of The Opera and My Fair Lady.
He formed his band in 2003 alongside his brothers Ralph and Neal, and cousin Graham.
The quartet previously went viral when they uploaded a video playing their version of Ravel’s Bolero, where all four players play on one cello at the same time.
Family: They have a daughter, Justine, previously Diane-Louise’s niece, but whom she adopted when her sister died unexpectedly (pictured in 2022)
Sweet: Former Songs of Praise presenter Diane has previously gushed over her ‘magnificent’ husband who she called a ‘genius violinist’
Career: Diane, who is best known for being Blue Peter’s first black presenter in 1990, was a favourite among viewers and shared a close bond with co-star Anthea Turner
Their music is a mix of classical, film soundtracks and rock’n’roll hits and have proved a huge success worldwide, touring across India and China.
Diane, who is best known for being Blue Peter’s first black presenter in 1990, was a favourite among viewers and shared a close bond with co-star Anthea Turner.
Speaking to the The Sun last year, she said: ‘I was definitely told it was a big thing for me to become the first black presenter. There’ll be media interest and there may be members of the public that aren’t happy about this. At that time Blue Peter was a bit of an institution. It was the nation’s favourite children’s programme. There was a lot that rested on that decision.
‘For any Blue Peter presenter you’re more than a presenter, you’re an ambassador really, and so to be the first black presenter I definitely knew getting that job was much more than representing myself. I knew the spotlight was on me and if I got it wrong that might reflect in a negative way on others like me.
‘When I started the job I was told to prepare for a few dissenting voices, and as expected there were letters that very vocally expressed how much they disliked someone like me, but within not too long a period of time the viewers got to know me, and when you get to know somebody the fear about who you assumed them to be, on the whole, tends to dissipate.’
It was around this time that Diane became a guardian to her niece Justin, following the sudden death of her sister Jay after she contracted a virus.