Cover Story
Jo Whiley on feeling young at heart, how loss changed her outlook on life and the importance of friendships
There’s a reason why Jo Whiley has got such a stellar reputation in the showbiz world. One of the loveliest and most grounded celebrities you could meet, Jo simply exudes confidence and enthusiasm. Despite having taken part in numerous campaigns, she describes woman&home’s photo shoot as ‘like a fantasy’.
‘I’m so happy and grateful to be doing this,’ she smiles, looking incredible in a full-length powder-blue dress. ‘Getting the chance to dress up in these amazing clothes is… I’m loving it!’
The 58-year-old kicked off her career on local radio in the late 80s and went on to work as a researcher on the boundarypushing youth programme The Word. She transitioned to Radio 1 in 1993, was soon also presenting Top of the Pops, and has been a BBC stalwart ever since.
As well as hosting her evening show on Radio 2 from Monday to Thursday, she also hosts her 90s Anthems revival nights and fronts the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage, taking us behind the scenes and interviewing some of the world’s biggest music acts.
Even though she laughingly denies it, Jo is undeniably cool. Jay-Z once visited her Northamptonshire home and ate strawberries with her grandma, and Snow Patrol did a mini gig in her kitchen. Her private life is every bit as busy as her career. Jo has been married to music executive Steve Morton, 59, since 1991, and the couple share four children – India, 31, Jude, 25, Cassius, 22, and Coco, 15.
We should never say someone looks good ‘for their age’.
They look good, full stop! I’ve been working with L’Oréal and I love their message that you don’t look great ‘for your age’, you just look great. The feedback I got from lots of women about that campaign was wonderful. It’s lovely being a woman of my age at the moment. There’s a sisterhood feel about people looking and feeling fantastic. Talking to other people and sharing wisdom is empowering. Instagram is an amazing place for sharing tips about how to get the best out of life. It cuts through all the rubbish. I think there’s been a real revolution over the past few years, and whether it’s your vulva or your vagina, you can talk about it all without shame!
I don’t think age is a barrier to anything.
It’s a transition and there’s nothing you can do about it. If I ever worry about getting older, I think, ‘Thank God you’re alive,’ and I’m so grateful. There’s a lot to get your head around because visually and physically, things change with age, so you have to address them. I’m always keen to find out about new facials, creams or serums because I think they can really help. There are so many gr
