Ed Balls breaks down in tears and comforted by guest after tough week

15 November 2023 , 09:35

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Ed Balls breaks down in tears and comforted by guest after tough week

Ed Balls broke down in tears on Wednesday's episode of ITV's Good Morning Britain as he thanked his "role model" Gareth Gates for giving him confidence with his stammer.

It comes after a tough week for Ed, 56, as earlier this week viewers called for him to be fired after he became embroiled in a furious row with Owen Jones that turned very personal. Gareth, 39, was on the show to talk about winning Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

The former Pop Idol star has lived with a speech impediment known as a stammer or stutter since he was a child. The communication disorder means a speaker may involuntarily repeat sounds or syllables, make words longer by elongating the first syllable, or have issues saying certain words.

Ed Balls broke down in tears on Wednesday's episode of ITV's Good Morning Britain as he thanked his role model Gareth Gates for giving him confidence with his stammer

During the interview, host Ed, who has been open about his own stammer, thanked Gareth for being such a role model to him. He said: "Can I say for me, to actually meet you and to talk to you is such an honour because you are a huge role model. For me when I wasn't talking publicly about my stammer. I was actually a cabinet minister, you were out there, and you were having a stammer but also showing you could be at the top of your game and being a star and you gave me confidence."

Later, Ed added: "You inspired me, you really did, I thought, 'if Gareth Gates can do this, I can too, and if he can be public... I can be public'. It was really hard but I did it because you showed me how to do it!" Ed then got really emotional as he broke down in tears before hugging Gareth in a powerful moment.

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After the hug, Gareth said: "You're a role model for me now, you know, for you to be doing this [presenting live TV] is really incredible." Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers were also left moved as one person said: "Lovely sincere moment between @edballs and @Gareth_Gates today..just shows people can lift up other people and make a difference to their lives without even realising it..I love Ed on GMB, I think he’s brilliant #GMB."

Ed got really emotional as he broke down in tears before hugging Gareth in a powerful moment

Elsewhere, a different account put: "Am I the only one who found the interview between Gareth Gates and Ed Balls extremely moving? I welled up. #GMB" while another added: "Actually filling up here watching @GMB with Ed balls and Gareth Gates you both are inspirational people #gmb #edballs #garethgates."

It comes after a tough week for Ed as earlier this week viewers called for him to be fired after he became embroiled in a furious row with Owen Jones that turned very personal.

The former Shadow Chancellor often sits alongside Susanna Reid on the ITV morning programme, but his co-anchor was forced to step in and stop the pair after the debate on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas turned into a bitter spat on Monday. While on Tuesday, Good Morning Britain aired quite the "car-crash" interview as host Ed clashed with Chair of the Conservative Party Richard Holden.

Good Morning Britain continues every weekday at 6am on ITV and ITV X. *Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on , , , , and .

Olivia Wheeler