STRICTLY Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas got emotional on-air after BBC Breakfast gave her a huge family surprise.
Shirley, 62, appeared on BBC Breakfast on Monday to talk about her her zip line, wing walk and skydive for the charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably).
Shirley got emotional as she talked about her fundraising
Jon and Sally surprised Shirley with a guest appearance
Audrey gushed over Shirley and her bravery
She joined Sally Nugent and Jon Kay on the BBC sofa and spoke about the impact the challenges had on her elderly 85-year-old mum, Audrey Rich.
Jon teased: “Do you know what? We’ve got a bit of a surprise for you – you’ve not seen her [her mum] since you did the challenges have you?”
Shirley replied: “I’ve not seen her since I did the last challenge, no.”
Jon added: “We’ve got someone special to show you.”
Jon and Sally then asked Shirley to turn around and she was open-mouthed to see her mum standing behind her.
Shirley fought tears as she embraced her mum before Audrey joined them sofa.
They spoke about Shirley’s gruelling challenges to raise money for the suicide prevention charity.
She took on the fastest zipline in the world, soaring for 1.5km over Penrhyn Quarry.
Then she did a wing walk, flying up to 110mph whist strapped to the rig of an aeroplane.
And she finished off by skydiving at 13,000 feet, despite her fear of flying.
She did in memory of her late brother David who died by suicide at the age of 44, and has raised more than £34,000 so far.
Audrey said how proud she was of Shirley for completing the challenges and the impact it has had on so many people.
She gushed: “It’s amazing isn’t it and how nerve-wracking for me! I’m very proud – gosh I couldn’t do it, but it’s all for a good cause you know.”
Shirley added: “It’s been an emotional week and I think on behalf of my mum and I, we wouldn’t want anyone to go what we’ve been through.
“We compartmentalised a little bit but when you do challenges like this it brought everything to the forefront, my brother’s been very much present in our house this week and I think we’ve both been emotional, haven’t we?”
Audrey said: “It brings it all back because constantly talk about it.
“You can only try and help people. You never truly get over it at night when you go to bed you relive it all.
“If the person who was suffering just gave it more time but they seem to panic.”
Shirley concluded: “Stand with me in the fight against suicide and help CALM be there for more people in their darkest moments.
“Their life-saving helpline staff chat to someone who’s struggling every 59 seconds.”
BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One.
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https://thecelebreport.com/television/i-was-one-of-emmerdales-sexiest-stars-in-the-early-noughties-but-ive-quit-fame-to-be-a-teacher
