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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Katherine Heslop

Brenda Edwards in tears on Britain Get Singing after song dedicated to late son Jamal

Brenda Edwards broke down in tears after her performance on Britain Get Singing which she dedicated to her late son Jamal.

The Loose Women star and her fellow panellists gave a moving rendition of Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Water, which left judge Alesha Dixon fighting back the tears.

Brenda said she was dedicating her performance to Jamal, a music entrepreneur who passed away in February this year aged 31.

While rehearsing the song, the group paused after Brenda started crying, with Coleen Nolan, Linda Robson and Denise Welch comforting her.

She explaining to the camera: "Because my son passed away earlier in the year at the moment everything is a trigger at the moment.

Brenda and her fellow Loose Women stars on Britain Get Singing (ITV/Sofi Adams/REX/Shutterstock)

She went on: "I am doing this in honour and memory of my son Jamal."

The group were joined by Judi Love and Kelle Bryan for the performance, which blew away judges Alesha, Jason Manford, Adam Lambert and Will.i.am.

Jason told Brenda, who rose to fame on X-Factor and has starred in West End musicals, "Everything you have gone through this year, for you to up there tonight in the name of entertainment and this cause is one of the most selfless things I have witnessed in my life."

Brenda is comforted by Linda Robson in rehearsal (ITV)

Adam told Brenda: "Thank you for showing us your vulnerability and strength."

After receiving praise from the panels, host Roman Kemp asked Brenda what the performance had meant to her.

She answered: "As my son would say, I just wanted to bring some self belief and I am just glad the ladies were here."

Loose Women went on to win the show, beating groups from Emmerdale, Love Island, The Chase and Coronation Street.

Speaking about the victory, Brenda said, going on to gesture at her pals: "It's meant a lot, I went backstage I was kicking myself because I didn't want to be crying but I looked to my right and they are crying.

"I wanted to do this in remembrance of Jamal."

Earlier this month on Loose Women, Brenda said she pushes herself to the limit because she can't bare to think too much about Jamal.

The 53-year-old said: "I never stop, I'm like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. Busy, busy busy!

Brenda is tearful on stage after receiving comments from the judges (ITV)

"I think it's normal for me, it works for me with my mental health and my physical health.

"It has gone up a lot since February, since Jamal passed.

"To be straight, I don't want to stop - if I stop it leaves with thoughts that I don't want.

"I don't want to deal with that. I want to keep focused. It helps.

"I look up and keep my faith. I believe Jamal is watching me saying 'go on mum, you can do this, keep doing it!'

Brenda was surrounded by her friends during and after the performance (ITV)

Janet Street-Porter said Jamal may be worried she is pushing herself too hard because he loved her so much.

Brenda replied: "Well we all know he worked 15 times what I did. I'm happy. I get my eight hours sleep!

"Stop being worried, I'm fine."

Jamal founded SBTV, a music platform which helped launch the careers of Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora, Stormzy and Dave.

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