John Kelly, 84, was found injured early this morning in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, amid sub-zero temperatures and sadly died at the scene.

A woman in a cream shirt and a man in a houndstooth jacket smiling at each other.
Lorraine Kelly’s dad John tragically passed away today
 

A police officer stands in a park with police tape marking off an area with a blue tarp.
He is believed to have slipped while walking through St Leonards in East KilbrideCredit: Tom Farmer
It’s understood cops are probing a “slip on ice” as part of their inquiries.

Staff from a nearby Tesco store are understood to have found the great-grandad injured at around 7am and called emergency services.

Heartbroken star Lorraine, 66, announced the news in a post on Instagram.

She wrote: “My dad has died. I am mourning the man who bought me a telescope when I was five years old, who watched the moon landings with me and taught me to always be curious and interested in everything.

“He was in poor health but it has still been a shock.

“Any of you who have experienced a similar loss will know how my brother Graham and I are feeling.

“Our priority is taking care of my mum and the family would very much appreciate privacy at this distressing time.”

I am mourning the man who who watched the moon landings with me and taught me to always be curious and interested in everything

Lorraine Kelly

Temperatures dropped below freezing overnight as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice covering Scotland.

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On Saturday, there was a heavy police presence while investigations took place — cops confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances, and it’s understood they are probing the possibility he slipped on ice.

A source close to the ITV star said she was still coming to terms with the tragic news.

They told The Scottish Sun on Sunday: “The news came as a complete shock and she’s understandably heartbroken.

“It’s never easy losing a parent, and Lorraine will be spending the next few days with her close family.”

Stunned locals told how the stairs are an accident blackspot.

One shop worker said: “People have been slipping constantly because it’s so treacherous underfoot. It’s so sad.”

Another, who asked not to be named, said: “There’s been loads of bother with those steps over the years.”

A resident who was passing the tragic scene said: “It was bitterly cold last night, and it is pretty treacherous underfoot.

“East Kilbride is often first to get a big snow fall but strangely we have avoided it until now.

“Last night there was the coldest it’s been, and it was still well below freezing overnight.

The news came as a complete shock and she’s understandably heartbroken

A source close to the ITV star

“It’s heartbreaking to think someone would have got into trouble in these awful conditions, especially an older person. Your heart goes out to the poor soul and his loved ones.”

Lorraine grew up in East Kilbride after her family moved to the new town from Bridgeton, Glasgow, when she was just 13.

She went to Claremont High School in St Leonards and her parents have stayed in the area for more than 50 years.

The telly queen got her break at the local paper writing for the East Kilbride News before landing a job at BBC Scotland in 1983.

Lorraine previously told of her heartache at being separated from her elderly father after he was taken into hospital.

Mr Kelly fell ill in 2020 with a non-coronavirus-related condition and had to be rushed in for treatment.

However, the lockdown meant the chat show host couldn’t travel from her home in the south of England to visit him in Scotland.

She said at the time: “It’s really difficult because my mum and dad are up in Scotland and my poor wee dad has just been taken into hospital.”

A year later, the bubbly broadcaster feared how she was going to lose beloved dad – after he suffered a secret cancer scare.

She added: “We went through a few very tough months thinking we were going to lose him. It was just awful – but he was amazing, he rallied.

“This time last year, he was in hospital and got out just before Covid started. He basically has heart failure.

Lorraine Kelly on the "Lorraine" TV show.
TV legend Lorraine shared a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram
 

Lorraine Kelly poses with her parents Anne and John.
Lorraine spoke previously about cutting down her work hours to help care for her mum AnneCredit: Alan Davidson
 

Police tape blocking off a set of concrete steps and a path.
Police were called to the scene at 7am this morningCredit: Tom Farmer
“He also had a really bad scare and they thought he had lung cancer but it was just a massive, massive infection.”

Mr Kelly, a former telly repairman, is survived by wife Anne, 85, who suffers from kidney condition nephrotic syndrome, and son Graham, 57.

The sofa queen last year cut down her hours and only appears on the box for four days a week to allow her more time to spend with mum Anne.

Lorraine stays in Buckinghamshire with cameraman hubby Steve Smith after the pair tied the knot in 1992.

They have a daughter Rosie Smith, 31, who in 2024 gave birth to Lorraine’s first grandchild Billie Kelly Smith-White.

Commenting on Mr Kelly’s death, Police Scotland said: “Around 7am on Saturday, 10 January, 2026, we were called to a report of a man found injured on a path near to St Leonard’s Square in East Kilbride.

“The 84-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

“His family is aware and are being supported by officers.

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“The death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.

“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.”

Man holding a baby in 1959.
John with baby Lorraine, who was born when he was just 18 when she was born in 1959
 

Lorraine Kelly and her father pose at an awards event.
Lorraine with her dad in happier times