Singer James Morrison’s partner Gill Catchpole, 45, has been found dead at home, leaving him heartbroken.
Ms Catchpole, mother to the You Give Me Something singer’s two daughters, was found at home in Whitminster, Gloucestershire on Friday, according to reports.
Morrison, 39, rose to fame in 2006, racking up an array of Top 10 albums, including two Number Ones, and won the Brit for Best British Male in 2007.
Sources say that the singer is ‘devastated’, with his family rallying round to support him following the tragedy.
He has two girls with Ms Catchpole: Elsie, 15, and five-year-old Ada, and she ran a café and catering business from the village where the family lived.
The Sun reports that police cars sat outside the Cotswold Sandwich Box business on Saturday. It was closed as officers visited.
A source told the paper: ‘Gill was found dead on Friday at the family’s home in Whitminster.
‘James is devastated and is being supported by his family. He is holding it together for their girls but has asked for the family to be left alone to grieve in private.’
A local added that the village was in ‘complete shock’ following the tragedy.
Morrison has spoken candidly of his romance with Ms Catchpole, telling podcast White Wine Question Time that she had moved into his mother’s house as a lodger with her then-boyfriend.
He said he had been learning songs from a Stevie Wonder album and began ‘serenading’ her with the tunes in a bid to impress her.
In remarks reported by Yahoo! News, he recalled: ‘When she moved in, I started singing all the songs off that album to her. I was playing all of that stuff on the acoustic guitar.
‘I’m not like: “I love romance.” But I do find certain things romantic and the fact that we met each other the way we did. It’s like a little fairy tale or something.’
He has also previously spoken of helping Gill find strength when daughter Ada was born 13 weeks premature, weighing just 1lb 11oz, speaking of a ‘difficult year’ as the tiny baby was brought into the world.
He told Lorraine in 2019: ‘[My daughter] was born just 1lb 11oz. She was really really small, but now she’s a good strong baby. She makes up for it in volume.
‘It’s good we’ve got to this point, as the first year was difficult. Everything that was hard is worth it now.
‘(Gill) was feeling down after the baby, so I had so much admiration for her.
‘I just wanted to write a song that sounded like sunshine on the radio. I wanted to lift her spirits, and she said I did that.’
Ms Catchpole had shared a post on her business’ social media last year expressing excitement at getting the venture going after undergoing a kidney transplant.
She wrote: ‘Well, what can I say. What a difference a year makes. This time last year I was having my kidney transplant and a year on after many ups downs and heartache I am a here owning my own business.
‘At the start of this year I myself never saw this coming. For anyone out there struggling I can tell you from experience it does get better.
‘Thanks to my amazing family and friends that have been there through it all and picked up the many pieces of me and my life. You all know who you are. Today I feel blessed.’
This is a breaking story, more to follow.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
