BBC star who appeared on Jonathan Ross show dies suddenly from flu aged 56

A BBC star who once graced the Jonathan Ross show has tragically passed away from flu at the tender age of 56. Kerry Wilson, the first-ever winner of Bob Says Opportunity Knocks in 1987, sadly died on January 3 after being placed into an induced coma from which she never recovered.

The Trentham native also made appearances on The Jonathan Ross Big Talent Show, Talking Telephone Numbers, Who Do You Do? and Summertime Special. She even dabbled in acting, playing Cheryl Colclough on BBC Radio Stoke's inaugural soap opera.

Her heartbroken mum, who had Kerry when she was just 16, described her as her "best friend". "It was very sudden. She's never been in the hospital in her life; no major health issues or anything like that," Linda told StokeonTrentLive, reports the Mirror.

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"But then this new flu came along. It's been devastating. You just don't expect it – everyone gets flued up every winter.

"She told me she felt a bit sniffly. As mothers do, I said to her, 'Why don't you ring 111? ' By the weekend, she didn't feel any better so she gave them a call."

Linda revealed that Kerry had a GP appointment "straight away" due to low oxygen levels and within 12 hours, she was put into a coma and on a ventilator.

Kerry was diagnosed with influenza A and her family thought she was starting to recover. Tragically, Kerry contracted sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection that occurs when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs, according to the NHS.

Kerry Wilson.





BBC star who appeared on Jonathan Ross Show tragically dies from flu at 56 - Kerry Wilson.

Linda shared: "A little while later she was gone. It was really rapid and totally unexpected."

Kerry had her family with her when she died. Her mum heartbreakingly shared she has lost a child before and "never thought it would happen again".

Amid her grief, Linda is keen to celebrate Kerry's life, talents and personality. She called her daughter a "local celebrity" and was "a comedian, an impressionist, a singer, and an all-round entertainer".

Linda called Kerry a "beautiful person inside and out" and that she made everybody smile. The devastated mum hopes by sharing Kerry's story, more people will get their flu jabs.

"Kerry didn't have the vaccine this year. I pushed her, but she didn't go out a lot and the last time she had it made her feel unwell, so she decided not to bother. Her friends all went along to the chemist yesterday to get one," Linda shared. Kerry made her first television appearance when she was just 19-years-old on Bob Says Opportunity Knocks and went on to win the show when it was hosted by presenter Bob Monkhouse.

The HSE advises that while the flu often improves on its own, it can cause serious illness in some individuals. Therefore, it's crucial to get the flu jab if recommended.

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