Caron Keating, a former "Blue Peter" TV presenter, has died aged 42 after a long battle against breast cancer, her family says.
Keating, daughter of TV and radio presenter Gloria Hunniford, died on Tuesday evening surrounded by her family at her mother's home in Sevenoaks, Kent.
"At 6.15pm last night broadcaster Caron Keating sadly lost her seven-year battle against cancer, a battle that she fought with enormous courage, tenacity and optimism," a family statement said.
"Caron made a lasting impact on everyone she met. She was a beautiful, fun-loving and spirited individual who throughout the last seven years has been a total inspiration to her family and friends."
Family friend Peter Powell, a former Radio 1 DJ, paid tribute to Keating's courage, saying she had fought a "most remarkable battle" against the illness.
"It was an enormous relief for the family that Gloria, her husband and two little boys Charlie and Gabriel were at her bedside," Powell told Sky News.
After starting in TV in her native Northern Ireland, Keating became best known for her four-year stint on "Blue Peter" which she joined in 1986.
"During her time with the show she triumphed at some amazing challenges from diving with sharks to abseiling down skyscrapers," said "Blue Peter" editor Richard Marson.
"Caron was famous for her fashion sense and one of the most popular competitions Blue Peter has ever run was for viewers to design an off-the-wall outfit for her."
She took time out from TV to look after her two sons, returning to co-present ITV's "This Morning" show. She went on to front a number of consumer and lifestyle programmes including the series "Family Affairs" which she co-hosted with her mother.
Keating, daughter of TV and radio presenter Gloria Hunniford, died on Tuesday evening surrounded by her family at her mother's home in Sevenoaks, Kent.
"At 6.15pm last night broadcaster Caron Keating sadly lost her seven-year battle against cancer, a battle that she fought with enormous courage, tenacity and optimism," a family statement said.
"Caron made a lasting impact on everyone she met. She was a beautiful, fun-loving and spirited individual who throughout the last seven years has been a total inspiration to her family and friends."
Family friend Peter Powell, a former Radio 1 DJ, paid tribute to Keating's courage, saying she had fought a "most remarkable battle" against the illness.
"It was an enormous relief for the family that Gloria, her husband and two little boys Charlie and Gabriel were at her bedside," Powell told Sky News.
After starting in TV in her native Northern Ireland, Keating became best known for her four-year stint on "Blue Peter" which she joined in 1986.
"During her time with the show she triumphed at some amazing challenges from diving with sharks to abseiling down skyscrapers," said "Blue Peter" editor Richard Marson.
"Caron was famous for her fashion sense and one of the most popular competitions Blue Peter has ever run was for viewers to design an off-the-wall outfit for her."
She took time out from TV to look after her two sons, returning to co-present ITV's "This Morning" show. She went on to front a number of consumer and lifestyle programmes including the series "Family Affairs" which she co-hosted with her mother.
