Dick Who? Ashley Roberts' Awkward Obituary Mix-Up Leaves Co-Hosts Cringing

It was supposed to be a moment of solemn respect. A tribute to a beloved star gone too soon.

Instead, it became the radio blooper heard 'round the internet—and a very confusing morning for anyone driving through London with Heart FM on the dial.

Ashley Roberts, former Pussycat Dolls singer turned radio personality, sat down in the studio on Thursday, February 12, 2026, ready to deliver an entertainment news update alongside co-hosts Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston. The news was genuinely sad: James Van Der Beek, the *Dawson's Creek* icon who captured hearts as Dawson Leery himself, had passed away at 48 after a courageous two-year battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer.

Roberts opened with gravitas. She set the tone. She prepared listeners for what she called "sad news."

And then she said this:

"*Dawson's Creek*'s Dick Van Dyke has passed away."

Silence, probably. Then chaos.

"Come On, Ashley"

Theakston, to his credit, did not let it slide. He jumped in immediately with the kind of correction that only a longtime co-host can deliver: "Not Dick Van Dyke—come on. If you're going to do a sensitive moment, if you're going to do an obituary, you can't just say Dick Van Dyke."

Holden, barely containing whatever emotion she was feeling, clarified the obvious: the *Chitty Chitty Bang Bang* and *Mary Poppins* legend—who just celebrated his 100th birthday in December—is, in fact, still very much alive.

Roberts' face, one can only imagine, was a study in horror.

"Yes, he's 100 years old! Oh my gosh, we spoke about this, I'm so sorry," she stammered.

Theakston delivered the final blow with deadpan precision: "Unbelievably, he's very much still alive."

The Anatomy of a Blunder

How does this happen? How does a seasoned entertainment reporter confuse a 100-year-old Hollywood treasure with a 48-year-old TV star who just died?

The answer lies in the cruel trick our brains play when names sound similar under pressure. Van Der Beek. Van Dyke. Both Dutch-sounding surnames. Both beloved television figures from different eras. Both occupying the same mental folder labeled "famous guys with 'Van' in their name."

But the Venn diagram of their careers does not overlap. Dick Van Dyke danced with penguins and chased car chimneys. James Van Der Beek brooded on a pier and taught us all what "I don't wanna wait" meant.

And now, one of them is gone. The other is presumably enjoying his 101st year on Earth, blissfully unaware that a former Pussycat Doll temporarily killed him off on national radio.

The Van Der Beek Tragedy

Let's not lose sight of the real story here, because it matters.

James Van Der Beek's death, announced Wednesday via a statement on his Instagram account, was a genuine loss. The statement read: "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace."

He was 48. He leaves behind a wife, six children, and generations of fans who grew up watching him navigate the soapy waters of Capeside. His post-*Creek* career included memorable turns in *Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23*, *Dawson's Creek* reunion nostalgia, and a very memorable episode of *Dancing with the Stars*.

Colorectal cancer took him far too young. And he deserved an obituary that got his name right.

The Aftermath

Roberts, to her credit, owned the mistake on air. There was no deflection, no blaming autocorrect. Just a flustered, mortified acknowledgment that she had, in fact, mixed up a living legend with a dead one.

The internet, predictably, had a field day. Clips of the blunder circulated within hours. Memes comparing Van Dyke's spry centenarian energy to Van Der Beek's angsty teen years proliferated. And somewhere, Dick Van Dyke probably chuckled, if anyone bothered to tell him.

The Lesson

Live radio is a high-wire act without a net. You sit there, microphone on, words coming out of your mouth in real time, and sometimes—sometimes—your brain serves up the wrong name at the worst possible moment.

Roberts will likely never live this down. Every future obituary she reads will be scrutinized. Every "Van" name will trigger flashbacks.

But here's the thing: James Van Der Beek deserved to be remembered. And now, thanks to a bizarre twist of phonetic fate, even more people are talking about him—his life, his work, his too-early exit.

As for Dick Van Dyke? He's probably doing a little dance somewhere, happy to be alive and utterly unaware that he briefly died on British radio.

Some legends just refuse to stay dead. Even when the news anchors try to put them there.