Gemma Collins has announced the death of her mother, Joan, who passed away peacefully at the age of 70. The former star of The Only Way Is Essex shared the news on Instagram on Wednesday evening, stating her mother was "surrounded by LOVE."
Joan had been hospitalized last month after contracting pneumonia. This was the second time she had battled the illness in the past six months. Collins had previously updated followers on her mother's condition, writing at the time, "Sending my mummy so much love she has caught Pneumonia but she is doing well thank you to all the wonderful nurses and doctors for looking after her."
In her tribute, Collins expressed her profound grief: "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."
Joan, a former hairdresser, had experienced previous health struggles. She was admitted to Broomfield Hospital in December 2025 with pneumonia and recovered after five weeks. She was also hospitalized with pneumonia in March 2020. In 2024, a health scare saw her in intensive care after she stopped breathing, a situation that left Collins fearing the worst.
Joan was a familiar face to fans of TOWIE, making several appearances on the show during Gemma's time. She also featured in Gemma's 2024 episode of "Who Do You Think You Are?" The program explored the family's past, including the story of Joan's biological mother, who was reportedly forced to give her up to foster parents. The episode revealed Joan's lifelong feelings of abandonment and unloved, as she had only met her biological mother three times. The show delved into the possibility that Joan's mother may have been forced to give her up due to misdiagnosed mental health issues. Joan broke down during the segment, describing her experience of foster care and a children's home at age 13.
Collins' tribute continued, emphasizing the deep impact her mother had on her life: "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."