Helen Skelton breaks down as she pays tribute to Morning Live co-host Kym Marsh's father Dave after his death to prostate cancer: 'Spending time with him was like spending time in the sunshine'

The BBC Morning Live team have paid tribute to show regular Dave Marsh, the father of presenter and actress Kym Marsh, following his death to prostate cancer on Friday.

Dave had previously featured on the show alongside former Coronation Street star Kym in his quest to raise public awareness of the disease after being diagnosed in 2021.

Kym’s father had appeared on Morning Live during Men’s Health Week to urge men not to hesitate in getting prostate examinations as he continued to receive treatment for an advanced form of the condition, which had spread to his bones.

Remembering Dave on Monday morning, host Helen Skelton broke down as she compared spending time with Dave to ‘spending time in the sunshine.’

‘[He was] the warmest man, constantly making people laugh,’ she told co-host Gethin Jones. ‘I could recount story after story.

Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones were close to tears as they paid tribute to Dave Marsh, the father of fellow presenter Kym Marsh, on Monday’s edition of BBC Morning Live

Dave had previously featured on the show alongside former Coronation Street star Kym in his quest to raise public awareness of the disease after being diagnosed in 2021

‘I caught him once singing to a hotel receptionist; she’d done a twelve hour shift, she’d had a difficult day and everyone in the reception is singing at her – why? Because he made her day great.’

The show also featured a montage of Dave as he battled the disease, which affects one in eight men and kills more than 12,000 men every year.

Sharing a post on the Morning Live X account, they wrote: ‘Kym and her Dad, Dave Marsh, worked tirelessly to raise awareness of prostate cancer after Dave’s diagnosis.

‘Sadly Dave lost his fight with the disease on Friday so we want to share his story and keep his legacy alive, and encourage men with symptoms to get checked.’

Jones and Skelton also read a personal message from Kym, a presenter on the show, in which she credited viewers for their support.

‘I and my family wish to thank This Morning Live viewers for the unwavering support they showed to dad, and us since his diagnosis,’ it read.

‘He was extremely proud of the work he did with the show to raise awareness of prostate cancer and the importance of getting checked. He wanted ti try and break the taboo, and was so happy when he received letters.

‘He had so many from viewers who had seen his story and as a result, had visited their doctor.

Jones and Skelton also read a personal message from Kym, a presenter on the show, in which she credited viewers for their support

Kym with dad Dave at The Sun Military Awards in February 2020, a year before his diagnosis

‘Dad was an incredible man who left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He was kind, loving, funny and very quick-witted. Even in his final days he was telling jokes and trying to keep our spirits up.

‘He was the best dad, grandad and great-grandad my family could have wished for, and we are all truly heartbroken at his passing.’

Former Coronation Street actress and Hear’Say singer Kym has spoken about her father’s prostate cancer on a number of occasions since revealing he had been diagnosed in 2021.

‘It is with immense sadness that we confirm the passing of David Marsh,’ a statement from the Marsh family said.

‘A much loved husband, dad, grandad, great grandad and friend to many, David passed away peacefully at home on Friday surrounded by his family.

‘We are truly heartbroken and ask for privacy at this incredibly difficult time.’

In 2021, Kym took a lengthy break from presenting BBC show Morning Live, later revealing she had been suffering from anxiety attacks and was seeking help for her mental health amid her father’s prostate cancer diagnosis earlier that year.

She appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, and when she became the 10th celebrity voted off the BBC show she spoke of wanting to make her father, who had been receiving prostate cancer treatment in hospital, happy.