Gemma Collins announces death of mother Joan Collins, 70

Reality television personality Gemma Collins has announced the death of her mother, Joan Collins, who passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the age of 70. The former star of "The Only Way Is Essex" shared the news in an emotional tribute posted to her Instagram account that evening.

In her post, Collins wrote that her heart was "shattered into a million pieces" and that her mother died "peacefully surrounded by LOVE." She expressed profound gratitude, writing, "No words will ever be enough to thank you for loving me, guiding me, and being my mum." Collins hinted that her mother's recent health struggles had limited her mobility, adding, "I hope you are finally free from pain. I hope you can walk again, laugh again, and feel light."

Joan Collins had faced significant health challenges in recent years. According to her daughter's previous social media updates, she was diagnosed with pneumonia twice within the last six months and was admitted to a hospital as recently as June 2026. In late 2025, she was also hospitalized for five weeks after contracting pneumonia. A more severe health scare occurred in 2024 when Joan was rushed to intensive care after she stopped...