Susanna Reid fought back tears as she and Piers Morgan paid tribute to coronavirus victims on Wednesday’s’ episode of Good Morning Britain.
The broadcaster, 50, grew emotional as she and her co-host, 55, shared stories about the lives of those who have passed away from the deadly virus in a special segment.
On Tuesday, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that, as of January 15, there had been 103,704 fatalities related to the disease across Britain since the pandemic began.
Emotional: Susanna Reid fought back tears as she and Piers Morgan paid tribute to coronavirus victims on Wednesday’s’ episode of Good Morning Britain
The presenters stood alongside images of the sufferers as they updated viewers on the horrific COVID-19 statistics.
Journalist Piers said: ‘We passed a horrendous milestone in this country, 100,000 people have now died from coronavirus in the UK.’
‘This morning, we pay tribute to all those who have died and to those who have been left behind. With family permission, here are just some of their stories’, a tearful Susanna added.
One half of Britain’s oldest twins Doris Hobday – a regular GMB guest – was featured in the heartfelt tribute after she passed away following a two-week battle.
Moving: The broadcaster, 50, grew emotional as she and her co-host, 55, shared stories about the lives of those who have passed away from the deadly virus in a special segment
Tragic: As of January 15, there had been 103,704 fatalities related to the disease across Britain since the pandemic began
The former BBC Breakfast star struggled to pull through the piece as she said: ‘For each name and every story we have told, there are at least 4,000 people who have died with coronavirus in the last year.
‘We say thank you to the families who let us share their personal details and those little details into their lives that make it hit home.’
Concluding the feature, Piers shared: ‘We pay tribute to each and every person who has lost their lives to this dreadful virus, may they all rest in peace.’
Others names included Maria Rico, Ahsan-ul-Haq Chaudry, Susan Marston, Bassodeo Rambojun, Rachel Hardy, Olufemi Akinnola, Shelia Gompertz, Mohammed Abdul Razaq, Kim Brien, Jim Russell, Marita Edwards and John Ho.
Sad news: One half of Britain’s oldest twins Doris Hobday – a regular guest – was featured in the heartfelt tribute after she passed away following a two-week battle
Gladys Lewis and her two sons Darren and Dean, Mike Hynd, Katie Horne, Trevor Belle, Peter Rodney Myles, Abbas Ahmed, Elizabeth Lewis, Matt Pears, Jim Pass, and Ramila Smyth were also honoured.
Lorraine Kelly later praised her colleagues for their moving message as she said: ‘Thank you so much for putting a human face on this unimaginable amount of people who have died. Thank you. It really hit home, we have all been saying that.’
Piers agreed: ‘Real people, real lives, real families, real loved ones, we should never forget that.’
Four in 10 deaths in England and Wales in the week ending January 15 were caused by Covid-19.
‘This is what we need to see on TV!’ Viewers commended ITV for highlighting the message
ONS recently there were 7,245 Covid deaths in England and Wales in the most recent week, making up over a third of the total, 18,042 (40 per cent).
A sombre Boris Johnson appeared at Downing Street on Tuesday to say he was ‘deeply sorry’ about UK’s Covid-19 death toll.
The Prime Minister joined Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, and NHS CEO Sir Simon Stevens, as he admitted it was ‘hard to compute the sorrow’ that Britain has been through in the past year.
This Sunday will mark one year since the first two people were taken to a hospital in Newcastle after being found with coronavirus in York.
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, a statistician at the University of Cambridge, described the 100,000 figure as an ‘awful total’.
Sombre: Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared at Downing Street on Tuesday to say he was ‘deeply sorry’ about UK’s Covid-19 death toll