This Morning fans 'crying' at episode while Dermot O'Leary shares Alison message
23.06.2023 - 13:45
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
This Morning viewers found themselves overcome with emotion just seconds before the last episode of the week came to an end. Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary were reunited again on Friday (June 23) for their usual stint at the helm of the ITV daytime show.
The pair were back together after viewers have been watching Dermot fronting the show alongside Holly Willoughby for the past two weeks following the shock exit of Phillip Schofield. And as Alison, 48, and Dermot, 50, were brought back together, they had a big show on their hands as This Morning paid tribute to later singer, and fan of the show, George Michael who would have been celebrating his 60th birthday this weekend.
The hosts opened the special show by explaining how they will be remembering his life, celebrating his music and also announcing the track viewers have voted for as the nation's favourite George Michael song, ahead of his milestone birthday.
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Alison said: "It’s a celebration today and we are turning up the volume! So many of his songs remind me of my childhood." Dermot added: "And what a soundtrack… and his was my first ever single [I bought]! It was a co-purchase with my sister."
Later, former This Morning host Richard Madeley fondly recalled when he discovered George was a regular viewer of This Morning. The now-Good Morning Britain host said: "We came off air [one morning] and our then editor was literally doing a jig in the corridor because someone had donated £50,000 [to a charity appeal the show was running] and we said ‘who?’ and she said he’s very famous but I’m not allowed to tell you, and we said ‘who?’ again she said ‘OK, it’s George Michael’.
"So we dialled his number and