A BBC News presenter choked back tears as she announced detained British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was finally free.
Joanna Gosling shared the breaking news with BBC viewers as it came in at around 10am today.
Presenting live on air, the newsreader appeared visibly emotional as she said: “Ah, there is an update.
“Two detained British-Iranians, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, are heading to...”
She then paused to compose herself before telling viewers: “Sorry, this is a moving moment because these are people who have been detained for some time.”
Both Nazanin and Anoosheh are both expected to be flown back to the UK today after being given back their passports.
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Joanna said the BBC were still awaiting independent verification on the news.
Her voice broke slightly, as she continued: “If that is true, that obviously will be a very significant development because Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held for nearly six years in Iran.
“And her husband has worked tirelessly to secure her release.”
After seeing the emotional clip, viewers were quick to tweet their support to the newsreader for showing some humanity, and Nazanin and her family.
One Twitter user wrote: “This is the only way to announce this good news. Everyone is choked that this nightmare situation is finally coming to an end. Now they can be a family again.”
Another said: “I would [get emotional] too, if I had been her. I only hope they both get home safely. I do hope we and the media will allow her to have some privacy to greet her husband and daughter.”
A third commented: “I’ll be honest, I got a lump in my throat when I heard. It’s just human nature.”
While a fourth added: “She did do well to hold it together! I was in tears watching this. Praying Nazanin is soon home safe and can try to rebuild her life with her family.”
Nazanin’s lawyer Hojjat Kermani said Nazanin and British-Iranian businessman Anoosheh Ashoori, are now on their way back to the UK.
Both were held by the Iranian authorities on suspicion of spying in the country.
Mr Kermani told media: “Both of them are on their way to the airport in Tehran to leave Iran.”
It comes a day after he spoke hopefully of having "good news soon".
Nazanin's release marks the end of a terrible ordeal for her family, who have endured life without her for nearly six years.
She has been in jail since 2016 and her family – including husband Richard and young daughter Gabriella - have had their hopes raised and dashed again.
Her sister Rebecca Ratcliffe told the BBC it was an “emotional day” for the family.
“It feels like we’re on the home run now, but until she leaves that airport we can’t believe it,” she said.
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