## Gabby Logan Reflects on Grief, Emotional Reporting, and Family Joy
Sports broadcaster Gabby Logan has spoken candidly about navigating profound personal loss and the emotional toll of her career, sharing insights into a life shaped by both tragedy and enduring family connections.
Logan, 52, revealed that dealing with the death of her younger brother, Daniel, at just 15 years old was an ongoing process. She described a particularly difficult period around the first anniversary of his passing during her freshman year of university, when she experienced what felt like a complete emotional collapse.
“I was running around, trying to avoid my grief,” Logan recalled on the *ainslie + ainslie Performance People* podcast. “By the end of my first year at university, with exams looming, it all kind of came crashing down.”
Initially struggling to cope, Logan found herself unable to sleep and feeling overwhelmed. After being offered sleeping medication by a doctor, she instinctively knew that wasn’t the right path, recognizing her distress ran much deeper. Following her father’s advice against relying on pills, she sought counselling—a decision she credits as pivotal in helping her move forward.
Logan’s openness extends to acknowledging the emotional weight of presenting news headlines, particularly tragic ones. Discussing this with BBC Radio 5 Live’s Rick Edwards on her *Mid Point Podcast*, she admitted to feeling deeply saddened after reporting difficult stories, highlighting the impact even a few hours of coverage can have.
“I remember coming away from filling in on 5 Live Breakfast feeling really sad. Some terrible things had happened that day,” she shared.
Edwards echoed Logan’s sentiment, describing a similar realization he experienced following weeks of reporting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “It was obviously horrendous and I just had a moment where I felt really down…it clicked—it was that, it’s quite relentlessly bleak.”
Despite facing these challenges, Logan consistently shares joyful moments from her personal life. Last year, she posted a heartwarming video on Instagram documenting the surprise of receiving a standard poodle, Maverick, for her 50th birthday.
The post revealed a touching story behind the gift: a years-long campaign by Logan to acquire a poodle had previously been rejected by her family who deemed them “not real dogs.” However, her daughter Lois championed the idea, leading to a search for puppies near Bath and ultimately Maverick’s selection. The surprise was captured on video, showcasing Logan’s emotional reaction and the subsequent adoration from her entire family.
“They are utterly enamoured and in love with the beautiful, clever, big handsome guy,” she wrote. “It’s like having a third child—you can always find a bit more love.”
