Faye Tozer breaks down as she talks about her late mother Dorothy

Faye Tozer broke down as she told how there is ‘a real void’ in her life after losing her mother to cancer during an appearance on Monday’s Loose Women.

The tearful Steps singer’s mother Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 before she was later told she also had lung cancer.

Faye, 47, who described Dorothy as a ‘lioness’, has now spoken at her heartache over her death, telling the panel: ‘It’s a real void without Mum. 

She said: ‘Also, I think my mum was my biggest critic and my biggest fan and she was the reason that I do shows or I’m in the business and just not having her on the end of the phone… it’s a tough one.’

Faye revealed the heartbreaking news that her beloved mother had sadly passed away in September last year.

Illness: The tearful Steps singer’s mother Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 before she was later told she also had lung cancer

She wrote on Instagram at the time: ‘It is with a heavy heart that I share that our wonderful Mum passed away on August 24th 2022

‘She was a lioness, and a warrior and lived her life to the fullest. She was my biggest critic and biggest fan and taught me that there was nothing I couldn’t do if I put my mind to it.

‘She was such an inspiration and a mentor to myself and so many others. I am sharing this now because I wanted to carry on performing with @officialsteps to finish our #Steps25 celebrations which I know she would have wanted.

She thanked her fellow bandmates saying: ‘I want to thank the band and all of my family north and south for their support during this time and know that we sang our little out for her.

Before adding: ‘I know she’ll have been so proud watching over us x.’

In July 2021 Faye told how her mother had been diagnosed with lung cancer just two years after she battled breast cancer.

Dorothy was told in December 2020 that she had cancer in her lungs after she went for a scan due to suffering from respiratory problems.

‘She was a lioness, who lived her life to the full’: Steps’ Faye revealed her beloved mother had passed away in an emotional Instagram tribute in September last year 

Speaking to OK! Magazine, Dorothy said: ‘Doctors have said, “We can treat it – but it might not kill it” and that ‘they might be having me back for more treatment as the years go on.’

Dorothy said doctors discovered cancer on her left lung and a smaller, different type of cancer on her right lung.

She had an operation to remove the cancer on her left lung and underwent CyberKnife treatment, a robotic radiotherapy procedure, to help with the cancer in her right lung in the summer of 2021.

Dorothy also said that as soon as doctor’s gave her the diagnosis, she ‘gave up smoking on the spot’ after decades.

Fame game: Faye rose to fame in 1997 with the band Steps (L-R: Claire Richards, Lee Latchford-Evans, Lisa Scott-Lee, Ian ‘H’ Watkins and Faye)