‘Nothing will be tougher’: Angela Bishop’s grief a year after husband’s death

Angela Bishop has given a rare insight into her devastating grief a year after her husband Peter Baikie died, in a moving joint interview with her 11-year-old daughter.

The Studio 10 star, 51, whose beloved husband died at the age of 54 last year from a rare form of cancer, is known for her bubbly personality on screen and rarely shares her personal troubles on air.

But now, speaking to Woman’s Day, the Aussie TV star has described Peter’s illness as “catastrophic” and admitted: “Nothing will be tougher than that, watching the person you love die.”

While the family had some warning of Peter’s illness, she said his death came as a shock at the time, adding: “You do prepare but it was unexpected – we didn’t know he was going to pass.”

Angela admitted one of the hardest weeks for her and her daughter Amelia came recently, when her own birthday, Amelia’s birthday and Father’s Day all fell around the same week. In an effort to distract her daughter, she said they both went with friends to Luna Park.

Meanwhile, Amelia bravely shared her own grief over her “superhero” father’s death to the mag, recalling his final days in hospital as she said: “I’m never going to forgive that stupid cancer. It killed my daddy. There’s a big hole in my life because dad’s gone.”

Amelia recalled one special memory when she made her dad his favourite chocolate cake for his 55th birthday, but she had to help him blow out the candles as he was on oxygen at the time – posing a serious risk.

It comes a year after a statement – issued by Peter’s family after his death – said his courageous fight against the disease had left everyone who met him full of immense admiration.

“He found his tower of strength in his wife Angela and the love of his daughter Amelia,” The Daily Telegraph reported of the statement. “The love shown to Angela and family during his final days by Peter’s circle of friends is testament to the man he was.”

Read more: Channel 10’s Angela Bishop loses beloved husband to rare cancer

The statement said that the “car fanatic and gifted mechanic” had a rare cancer, which was diagnosed in February 2016. Angela, who is the daughter of pollie Bronwyn Bishop and a regular on the red carpet thanks to her role as an entertainment reporter, and Peter married in 2005. 

Angela, who’s been on Channel 10 for almost 30 years, has previously been an ambassador for a campaign for intestinal cancer and worked to raise money for breast cancer research.

Have you lost a loved one to cancer? Do you have a message for Angela and her daughter?