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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Good Morning Britain's Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard fight back tears as they share news of guest's death

Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard appeared emotional on Thursday's Good Morning Britain.

The presenters were back at the helm of the ITV news programme and started the show by sharing some sad news.

Kate and Ben fought back tears as they told viewers that GMB guest Isla Caton tragically died from cancer.

Isla, an avid West Ham fan from Essex, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, high-risk neuroblastoma, when she was just two years old.

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The youngster had been bravely battling neuroblastoma for almost five years.

Isla's heartbroken family announced her passing, at seven-years-old, on Wednesday.

Ben, 47, opened GMB with the news of her passing.

He said: "We are going to start with some sad news, though many of our viewers I'm sure will remember our guest, seven year old Isla.

"Very sadly Isla's family posted this tweet on Tuesday."

Kate, 54, read out the family's statement, which said: "It is with the heaviest of broken hearts that we must announce Isla gained her angel wings. It was very peaceful and surrounded by the continued love of Nicola, Michael, and Millie."

She added: "Very sad but wonderful for her and her family that she got to see some of that love."

Ben then read out a tribute from West Ham legend Mark Noble. It said: "I was first introduced to Isla when I carried her out as a mascot in Bournemouth in 2018, it was very clear she was a very special girl.

"She will never be forgotten, she will be part of the West Ham family forever. Rest In Peace, little Isla."

The presenter added: "And we share those sentiments from Mark to Isla and her family."

Isla and her mum Nikki had appeared on Good Morning Britain earlier this month.

The GMB hosts paid tribute (ITV)

They were on the show to discuss the fundraising campaign Nikki had spearheaded following her daughter's diagnosis.

In December 2021, Isla's parents Nikki and Michael were told that her treatment was no longer effective and she would have just a few weeks to live.

On Isla's last JustGiving page, Nikki said: "We have now decided to spend our time making sure Isla has the most wonderful life we can give her and to make as many amazing memories as we can so instead of fundraising for medical costs we now feel it's time to give Isla as much happiness as humanly possible - if anyone deserves it, it's our baby girl."

The family's campaign has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to fund cancer treatment and trials.

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