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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Everett

BBC Breakfast's Sally fights back tears over death of 'brilliant' co-star Bill Turnbull

BBC Breakfast 's Sally Nugent fought back tears as she spoke about the death of 'brilliant' co-star Bill Turnbull.

Nina Warhurst and Sally were presenting the show as they spoke about their former co-star, who died last year from prostate cancer.

Speaking on what would have been his 67th birthday, the pair tried to hold back their tears.

Bill's daughter Flora appeared on the show in a video clip where she talked about how she was training to run the London Marathon in his memory.

She said: "Losing dad was obviously such a big thing for us and our family. I think first of all I wanted to have a purpose this year, and to remember Dad in the most purposeful way possible.

Sally Nugent fought back the tears (BBC)

"This felt like I could pay tribute to him in a way that was personal to him, because he ran the marathon a few times, and also to highlight this cause for Prostate Cancer UK."

Following the clip, Nina and Sally began to talk about Bill, with Sally appearing particularly emotional.

Talking about her former BBC Breakfast colleague Sally said: "What a man. What a great man, would have been his birthday today."

Nina then asked if she had good memories of Bill and Sally replied: "Yes, he's just brilliant to work with. Brilliant to know. Very, very kind, very, very wise and as we saw in that piece there, really private, so for him to talk about his health was a really big deal, that's how important it was to him."

Bill passed away last year (BBC)

Nina added: "And a brilliant dad," as Sally also said: "We really miss him."

Bill, who appeared on BBC Breakfast from 2001 until 2016, was diagnosed with cancer back in 2017 and went public with his battle the following year.

He detailed his treatment in a Channel 4 documentary called Staying Alive.

In October last year Bill announced he was taking a leave of absence from his show on Classic FM for health reasons.

When Bill passed away his wife Sarah, known as Sesi, released a statement.

Bill died aged 66 (REX)

She said: "Our lovely Billy died yesterday evening. Almost five years after being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

"The last week of his life was very special as the whole family was with him and they shared some wonderful moments.

"Although Bill was often in pain, he was dignified and brave throughout and he was his usual determined self right until the very end. He made us laugh everyday. We are immensely proud of him. He was the heart of our family. It's hard to imagine life without him."

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