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Jo Whiley has admitted she has ‘a new lease of life’ in her fifties, both in her career and at home.
The Radio 2 DJ, 57, is mum to India, 30, Jude, 24, Cassius, 21, and Coco, 14, and is getting used to the idea of empty nest syndrome.
Speaking to Good Housekeeping Magazine, the BBC star calls the new chapter in her life ’empowering’ and encourages other parents to embrace the changes.
‘People often say they don’t know what to do with themselves when their kids leave home and I really relate to that,’ she admitted.
Fifty something and thriving! Jo Whiley has admitted she has ‘a new lease of life’ in her fifties, both in her career and at home
Parenthood: The Radio 2 DJ, 57, is mum to India, 30, Jude, 24, Cassius, 21, and Coco, 14, and is getting used to the idea of empty nest syndrome (pictured with India)
‘It’s daunting when you suddenly have more time on your hands. It’s easy to feel panic-stricken about who you are, what on earth you’re going to do with yourself.’
‘But it’s a chance to go out there and have a new lease of life; to have independence and enjoy yourself, which is very empowering.’
Jo, who presents the evening slot at Radio 2 is also thriving in her professional life, declaring: ‘It used to be that everything stopped when you got to a certain age – but not any more.’
‘This is a fantastic time to be in our 50s – we are very, very lucky. Over the years, I’ve been through a lot of stuff at work.’
‘I’ve dealt with people being very difficult and feelings of fear and stress when it’s all been too much. But now I know how to navigate it all and I feel much stronger.’
Speaking to the Daily Mail Weekend Magazine recently Jo explained how she navigated motherhood in her early years in the TV industry.
The rising star was 26 and a researcher on the late-night Channel 4 TV show The Word during her first pregnancy. ‘There were very few women working who had babies back then,’ she recalled.
‘Courtney Love was pregnant at the time; I booked her on the show and that’s when I first met her. Our presenter Amanda de Cadenet was also pregnant, so we all latched on to each other.’
Mum: Speaking to Good Housekeeping Magazine , the BBC star calls the new chapter in her life ’empowering’ and encourages other parents to embrace the changes (pictured with son Cassius)
Embracing it: ‘People often say they don’t know what to do with themselves when their kids leave home and I really relate to that,’ she admitted
Read more: The July 2023 issue of Good Housekeeping is now on sale
‘When I was in hospital having India, there was a call for me: it was Amanda. ‘I just wanted to check if you had your baby?’ She’d phoned to see if I was all right.’
Having children did not hold her back, despite the lack of maternity rights and childcare. ‘My bosses were brilliant about it. At The Word, they said, ‘just bring the baby in,’ so I did.
‘I used to drive with India screaming in her baby seat, then take her in for meetings. She would crawl across the table and someone would turn her around so she could crawl back to me. No one batted an eyelid.’
When the call came from Radio 1, Whiley never mentioned she was a mother, ‘because it wasn’t cool to have a child and be part of Britpop.’ That was, until she watched The Big Breakfast.
‘Paula Yates was an amazing role model. The way she spoke about her kids made me think, ‘Oh, of course I can talk about having a family.’ There was a lot to admire about Paula.’
