Elderly man leaves This Morning viewers in tears after revealing he’ll spend Christmas without his wife for the first time in 68 YEARS after she moved into care home due to dementia
- This Morning viewers left ‘heartbroken’ by UK-based Ted’s story during phone-in
- Pensioner revealed he won’t see dementia-stricken wife for first time in 68 years
- Will spend Christmas with one of his sons but is devastated he won’t see Jessie
- Has been helped by Age UK who have arranged for weekly phone calls for Ted
This Morning viewers were left in tears after an elderly man revealed he won’t be spending Christmas with his wife for the first time in 68 years.
During the call-in section of the show, pensioner Ted, from the UK, told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield that he won’t be spending the festive season with wife Jessie after she was moved into a care home with dementia before lockdown.
While he’ll be spending Christmas Day with one of his sons, Ted admitted he’s found the holiday season ‘really hard’ and is struggling being unable to see his beloved wife.
Viewers called the phone-in ‘absolutely heartbreaking,’ but were pleased that Ted was able to receive help from charity Age UK, who have arranged for him to have weekly phone calls with volunteers.
This Morning viewers were left in tears after an elderly man Ted (pictured) revealed he won’t be spending Christmas with his wife Jessie (pictured) for the first time in 68 years
While he’ll be spending Christmas Day with one of his sons, Ted admitted he’s found the holiday season ‘really hard’ and is struggling being unable to see his beloved wife, who had recently been moved into a care home
‘It’ll be the first Christmas in 68 years we won’t be together’, said Ted. ‘It will be really hard, really hard.
‘I was seeing her five days a week and I haven’t seen her now since the first week of June.’
Ted will see other members of his family on Christmas Day, but is finding it difficult missing special moments in Jessie’s life.
He explained: ‘I am going to one of my sons for Christmas, just for the day of Christmas, but it is hard.
Viewers called the phone-in ‘absolutely heartbreaking’ but were pleased that Ted was able to receive help from charity Age UK who have arranged weekly phone calls with volunteers
‘We haven’t been apart for 68 years and it’s her birthday on Friday week and I can’t see her, it’s really hard. ‘
Viewers quickly took to Twitter to share their heartbreak, with one writing: ‘Christmas will be very different for all of us this year Ted. How very sad.’
Another wrote: ‘Just listen to Ted on @thismorning Sounds like you do a wonderful job caring for our elderly giving them a much needed lifeline #teartomyeye #keepupthegoodwork’
A third penned: ‘Poor Ted. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.’
During the call-in section of the show, pensioner Ted told hosts Holly Willoughby (pictured) and Phillip Schofield his wife had moved into a care home before lockdown
Fortunately, Ted has been receiving help from Age UK, and he told host Phil (pictured) they have connected him with volunteer Lisa who has weekly chats with him for as long as they like
Fortunately, Ted has been receiving help from Age UK, who have connected him with volunteer Lisa who has weekly chats with him for as long as they like.
‘I spoke to age UK and they started sending me material all about the dementia and all that sort of thing’, said Ted.
‘They arranged for a phone calls for five minutes and then they made a regular phone call with a girl called Lisa and we talk as long as we like for once a week and it really does help.
‘We can speak as long as we like, It’s something to look forward to speaking to Lisa, we discuss Jessie and we discuss all sorts of things and her job and its nice.’