RECORDED | Mark Pilgrim’s life celebrated at memorial service

Family, friends and colleagues of veteran radio and TV presenter and author Mark Pilgrim are gathering on Friday at a private location for his memorial service.

His death, at the age of 53, was confirmed in a statement from HOT 102.7FM on Sunday. He passed away at home with his family on Sunday morning.

Mark was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2022. He confirmed it returned after three years in remission.

Mark first battled stage three testicular cancer when he was 18.

Throughout his cancer battle Mark shared his journey on his Instagram page with the phrase Don't Stop Believing that inspired many, sharing how he hoped he would give others “inner strength to face another day”.

Apart from being a radio jock, he hosted the reality TV shows Big Brother Africa and Big Brother SA for its first two seasons.

He published a book in 2015, a memoir called Behind The Baldness.

MD of HOT 102.7FM Lloyd Madurai said Mark's death left “an enormous hole in the HOT family, as well as the broader radio industry.

“Old school radio pros like Mark don’t come around very often and the only comfort we can draw is the fact that Mark had an incredible impact on not just South African radio, but the broader community, bravely fighting this awful disease in the public eye, and inspiring and giving hope to people in a similar position.”