KYM MARSH admits she was grief-stricken at losing her beloved dad but believes his spirit is with her

every day.

The former Coronation Street actress revealed she was her father David’s “shadow” until his death in

January, three years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

And she often spots little clues that he is watching over her.

One such sign came following David’s appearances on BBC One’s Morning Live, where Kym was a presenter, to talk about living with his illness and warn other men what symptoms to look out for.

He became a favourite with viewers and had a running joke on air with Kym’s co-host Gethin Jones about how he would regularly ask his famous daughter to “lend me a fiver”.

Kym recalls: “Every time Dad came on Morning Live, he would say to Gethin, ‘She’s still not given me that fiver’. It was a constant running joke.

“Shortly after dad passed away, I randomly found a five pound note in my car. I don’t know if people believe in stuff like this but I don’t know how it got there.

“I put that in the coffin with Dad and I said, ‘There you go, Dad, I’ve given you your fiver now’.”

She adds: “Whether you believe in it or not, it’s not wrong to take comfort from something.

“I found a fiver and I thought, ‘That’s my dad’. It gives you something to hold on to and it gives you hope, all those little reminders. Or sometimes I find myself in a moment and I smile to myself about a memory.

“It is holding on to those moments which are so important to me.”

Kym describes with pride how David made it his mission to educate others about prostate cancer.

“Dad did everything he could to raise awareness, to try and save other people’s lives,” she tells me with a smile, as she speaks publicly for the first time since her dad’s death. “That is his legacy.”

‘Test could save life’

While Kym remains composed as she talks so fondly about her father, she confesses life has not been easy without him.

She says: “I will be 48 when this interview comes out. And it’ll be my first birthday without my dad being here with me.

“As a family, we have been finding the firsts quite difficult.

“It was my dad’s birthday, then my mum’s first birthday without dad, then my birthday came around. Then Father’s Day.

“I am fortunate to be around a group of people and have friends who have been so supportive to me. For mum, too, it’s difficult because she is on her own now so I am trying to see her as often as I can.”

Kym took an extended break from Morning Live following her father’s 2021 diagnosis as she struggled with stress-related illness.

The following year, her strength was tested again as she competed on Strictly Come Dancing and found herself gripped by anxiety and panic attacks.

Kym bravely spoke to The Sun about how difficult it had become, but says she has learned some crucial coping techniques.

“When Dad passed away, I had a bad time and my anxiety was very bad,” she explains. “It was like it was biting at my throat the entire time. But I haven’t had an anxiety attack for a while now.

“I do struggle sometimes still, but I recognise it and I take time to deal with those feelings. I have learned to control it.

“I know when my anxiety is flaring up. I take myself away and meditate or just sit and be still.

“I think anxiety is within us all and you just have to learn how to cope with it and deal with it.”

Kym, who is mum to David, 29, Emilie, 26, and Polly, 13, says losing David has driven her family to raise awareness and money for prostate cancer charities.

In April, her son-in-law Mikey Hoszowskyj ran the London Marathon for Prostate Cancer UK.

“Mikey ran it with a fiver in his pocket for Dad,” Kym explains.

“Dad would have been there with him the whole time. I am so proud of Mikey for what he has done.

“We just need to keep people talking about prostate cancer and, crucially, getting checked.”

I think anxiety is within us all and you just have to learn how to cope with it and deal with it.

Kym Marsh

Early diagnosis, Kym explains, is key to tackling the disease head-on.

David held off seeing a doctor during lockdown because he was worried about burdening the under-pressure NHS.

The delay meant that, by the time he was diagnosed, the cancer had advanced and later spread to his bones. Kym is keen to make sure family, friends and the public know the dangers and do not put off seeking medical help.

“I have two older brothers who became more vigilant after Dad’s diagnosis,” she reveals.

“And my son David, he is only 29, but he is aware of it now and he will be making sure he gets checked. The blood test is the most important thing. Get to your doctor and ask for the blood test. It could save your life.

“Men think it can be a bit embarrassing, but the embarrassment needs to go.

“They don’t talk about illnesses and symptoms. They shrug it off and say, ‘I’ll be all right’.

“And there has to be a change. We have to encourage people to speak to their doctors. No matter how uncomfortable it might seem.”