A devastated Alison Hammond led the gushing tributes to a soon-to-be ex-colleague on Friday Morning.
The This Morning presenter, alongside co-host Dermot O'Leary, announced the departure of a much-loved member of the team during the ITV show's final broadcast of the week.
"Alan who does all the sound effects and the music and everything is actually leaving. I'm absolutely devastated," a clearly emotional Alison, 47, began live on-air.
Former X Factor host Dermot, 48, then chimed in: "Oh he's a genius. Where's he going?"
Continuing to address the viewers watching at home, a downcast Alison added: "Let's have some sound - because this is what he does."
As a poignant version of Our Tune played, the former Big Brother contestant explained: "He's leaving today. He's been an amazing member of staff here at This Morning.
"We just want to say: we love you, we'll miss you and you have been the best. Thank you, anyway."
Dermot agreed with his co-star's sentiments, adding: "If you do change your mind Alan, do come back here. I don't think wherever you're going to go will give you the artistic license to just press any buttons you want."
The departure of Alan comes just days after This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby announced the departure of to one the show's longest-running members of staff, Tim Carr.
The floor manager was seen on camera enjoying the delight's of TV chef Phil Vickery's cooking, during an emotional goodbye segment to his time with ITV.
As This Morning bids farewell to some of its backstage team, the award-winning show can at least be confident its retaining on-screen talent.
Last year, host Holly, 41, addressed speculation she was set to quit the mid-morning show.
The presenter has been at the helm of the show alongside her presenting partner Phillip Schofield for over a decade, but she has been subjected to a lot of rumours about her potentially quitting or retiring from the show.
Speaking on ITV's The Jonathan Ross Show in Decemeber 2021 , she said: "I never think like that. I feel very lucky to be on that show. The show changes so much, I think that’s the beauty of This Morning.
"Recently it’s had the highest ratings it’s had in 15 years. It’s doing really, really well which is extraordinary for a show that’s been around for as long as it has. And I think because it changes and it evolves and it adapts."
"But I think that show has something to teach us a little bit; as long as we keep evolving and changing and moving on and happy to flow with things," she continued.
Holly added that she feels "very lucky" to be able to work with her co-host Phillip, and she confessed she "couldn't imagine a world without him being there".
