Sitting in heavy traffic near her home, Jill Dando exchanged a smile with a fellow motorist who had grabbed her mobile telephone to ring a friend to say that she had spotted the BBC golden girl.

It was yet another reminder to the 37-year-old television presenter that her dream of becoming a household name had been realised.

She took a call from the Prince Edward Theatre and confirmed her surprise birthday present – tickets to a West End musical – for Alan Farthing, the consultant gynaecologist she was due to marry in five months.

Just 17 minutes later, as she walked to her front door, she was shot dead. Her murder brought to an end a life and career full of promise.

Born in Weston-Super-Mare in 1961, it was discovered she had a hole in the heart. She required special care from her parents, Jack and Jean, and elder brother, Nigel, until she had the life-saving operation when she was three.

As she grew up, the family was struck by another challenge when her mother was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Despite her illness, Mrs Dando encouraged both her children to pursue their ambitions of becoming journalists.

After finishing her A levels, the young Miss Dando became a junior reporter on the Weston and Somerset Mercury.

Her mother was convinced that her daughter’s personable manner and good looks would see her thrive in the world of television. She persuaded her to take her first step in broadcast journalism by joining Radio Devon.

However, in 1986, Mrs Dando lost her painful battle against leukaemia at the age of 58.

Her daughter has admitted that the loss of the woman who had helped shape her career was devastating.

“She didn’t live to see my TV success, but she was so proud when I got the job on radio,” she recalled.

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