Sophie Ellis-Bextor has paid tribute to her ‘funny, smart and solid’ step-father after he died last week following a battle with stage four lung cancer.
The musician, 41, revealed her stepdad John Leach’s passing ‘wasn’t unexpected but it was cruel’ and said the love he and her mother, former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis, 64, shared will ‘stay on forever’.
Praising the couple’s ‘inspirational marriage’, Sophie revealed she wrote her 2013 track Young Blood about them as she posted a picture of TV producer John sat in his garden on her Instagram page on Thursday.
Tragic: Sophie Ellis-Bextor has paid tribute to her ‘funny, smart and solid’ step-father John Leach (pictured) after he died last week following a battle with stage four lung cancer
She wrote: ‘This is my step-dad, John. He’s been a big part of my life since I was small. I can’t believe it’s true but he died last week.
‘It wasn’t unexpected but it was cruel. Still, the love he and my mum created is all around our family and that stays on forever. Their marriage was truly inspirational – in fact, I wrote Young Blood about them.’
The mother-of-five continued: ‘I feel so lucky to have been brought up around that and to have been raised by him, too.
‘The love he and my mum created stays on forever’: The musician (pictured on stage in 2019), 41, revealed her stepdad John Leach’s passing ‘wasn’t unexpected but it was cruel’
Solid couple: The singer’s mother, former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis, 64, married the former managing director of TV production company Sunset+Vine, in 1988 (pictured in 2018)
‘He was honestly the loveliest person. Kind, good, funny, smart, subtle, solid and clear. It’ll always be sad that he isn’t here but I’m thankful for all he’s done for us and for so, so many happy memories.
‘Love is the most mighty thing of all and it outlives everything. Xxx.’
Broadcaster Janet married the former managing director of TV production company Sunset+Vine, in August 1988 following the breakdown of her one-year marriage to Sophie’s biological father Robin Bextor, 66.
The host and TV director Robin tied the knot in 1977, two years before they welcomed Sophie.
John is also survived by their two other children, Jackson, 33, and Martha, 29.
In April, the singer revealed she, husband Richard Jones and their children Sonny, 16, Kit, 11, Ray, seven, Jesse, four, and Mickey, 18 months, went into isolation before UK’s official lockdown as they didn’t want to risk making John ill during his battle with cancer.
During an interview on Lorraine, Janet explained that her husband’s treatment was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
She said: ‘My husband lives with cancer, so his treatment is suspended at the moment. He has a wonderful doctor who will get him the treatment when he can.’
The media personality detailed her long-term partner’s experience with the disease to The Sunday Post last year.
Janet said: ‘The cancer is part of our life and takes precedence when it needs to, but when he has breaks from treatment we have a lovely time.
‘We are determined that we are going to make the best of it and we do. Our family are amazing and we have really supportive friends.’