GMB's Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid forced to hold back tears after moving key worker appearance

Good Morning Britain’s Ben and Susanna were forced to hold back tears this morning after a moving guest appearance.

Presenters Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard, who was standing in for usual host Piers Morgan (opens in new tab), were visibly moved on today’s instalment of the morning news show after they spoke with a key worker who had an incredibly touching story.

Key worker Darren Chillery-Watson, who works transporting coronavirus tests (opens in new tab) to hospitals, made a virtual appearance on the show as he discussed being voted Wagon Wheel’s Epic Dad of the Year for self-isolating from his daughter.

The dedicated dad has been living in his garden shed throughout the coronavirus lockdown (opens in new tab) so that he could stay away from his young daughter Carmela, as she is shielding (opens in new tab) due to suffering a rare muscular condition.

The six-year-old, who recently became an Internet star when she took inspiration from fitness coach Joe Wicks (opens in new tab) to create exercise videos for those with weakened muscles, suffers from LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy, which causes weak muscles and joint deformities.

Explaining that “it could be disastrous” if his daughter were to be exposed to the coronavirus, Darren revealed that he has only been seeing his daughter at weekends when they spend quality time together playing “silly games”, but that he still “can’t cuddle her” and “can’t high-five her”.

Young Carmela also appeared on the show with her mother Lucy and described her dad as “funny” and “silly”, adding, “at night-time when he’s behind the glass we just go like this,” and making sweet gestures matching the words said, “I love you this much too”.

MORE: Susanna Reid reveals the secret behind her ‘TV marriage’ to Piers Morgan (opens in new tab)

Epic Dad Darren was visibly moved by this, but the touching words also seemed to have affected hosts Ben and Susanna too as both were appearing to hold back tears, with dad-of-two Ben slightly choked up as he carried on the interview.

The emotional was all the more palpable when Carmela said that “after the coronavirus” she would give her dad “a big squeeze”, to which Darren said he was “looking forward to that big squeeze absolutely”.

The key worker finished by touching on his daughter’s new campaign named Walk with Carmela (opens in new tab), which aims to raise money for those suffering with muscular dystrophy.

Let’s hope Darren and Carmela can be reunited soon ❤️