Claudia Winkleman, Dermot O’Leary and Fearne Cotton arrive for Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Terry Wogan
Stars pay tribute to the well-loved TV and radio personality
AN ARRAY of famous faces arrived at Westminster Abbey for the Service of Thanksgiving of Sir Terry Wogan, who died in January.
Dermot O’Leary, Claudia Winkleman and Fearne Cotton were among the early arrivals at the event which will celebrate the life of the BBC Radio 2 DJ and TV presenter.
The service commenced at midday and broadcast live on Radio 2 to coincide with today being the anniversary of Sir Terry’s first radio broadcast.
Fellow Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans will pay tribute at the event, saying that when he started his job on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1996, Sir Terry told him:"They either like you, or they don't.'"
He added: "Terry Wogan wasn't the best. He is the best, and he will always be the best."
And Joanna Lumley read a poem titled For The Greatest Former Living Irishman.
Peter Gabriel performed That’ll Do and Katie Melua, whose career Sir Terry championed sang her hit The Closest Thing To Crazy.
His children Alan, Mark and Katherine will read prayers and favourite acrchive recordings of Terry’s will be made throughout the service.
The collection will raise money for the charity closest to Terry’s heart, Children In Need.
Before the service, Gloria Hunniford told the BBC: "It's a very special event. I feel happy and sad. Sad because we have to be here to celebrate his life, happy that we've got a chance to say goodbye.
"He would be saying, 'what's this all about?' But we never got a chance to say goodbye."
The national treasure died aged 77 on January 31 surrounded by following a “short but brave” battle with cancer.
Speaking the day after his death, his long-term friend, Priest Brian D’Arcy who was at his bedside during his final days, gave a touching insight into the man away from the public eye.
He was one of the most thorough, educated, friendly, charitable gentlemen that I've ever met,' Father D'Arcy said.
“Everything revolved around [his wife] Helen, who was the centre of his life. They were married for over 50 years. Anyone who ever went to the Wogan household understands there are no pictures of stars around the walls of his house.
“The living room is festooned with pictures of children young and old, grandchildren, family gatherings, food, together round a table, weddings, baptisms, all of those things surround the walls of his entire house.
“The family was the centre of his life and everything revolved around the happiness of Helen and the family.'
“They will be awfully, awfully sad... Relieved, though, that his suffering is over.”