Loose Women's Charlene White has said that she and Judi Love were at Brenda Edward's side at the weekend following her son Jamal's tragic death at the weekend.
The music pioneer, who was credited with launching the careers of a number of music artists and inspiring a generation, died aged just 31 at the weekend.
ITV panelist Brenda, 52, often spoke proudly of her son and was joined by him on the show after he was awarded an MBE for his achievements.
Announcing what was coming up on Loose Women today, Charlene said: "As you know, it's been a bit of a difficult day for us here at Loose Women after the heartbreaking news that Brenda's son Jamal passed away yesterday.
"On today's show, we'll be paying tribute to the powerhouse that is Jamal Edwards."
Charlene appeared to choke up as she gathered herself and continued: "Last night, both Judi [Love] and I were with Brenda and she told us she wants today's show to celebrate her son's achievements, but she also wants us to make her smile and to chuckle, so we'll be aiming to do that today as well."
She and Judi were also joined by Linda Robson, Carol McGiffin and Frankie Bridge on the panel as later spoke more about Jamal and supporting Brenda last night.
Charlene said that the news had hit everyone who knew Jamal hard and said that they "wanted to do Brenda proud".
"I think people see us on Loose Women and all of the rest of it and we get on on stage, but it's so much bigger than that," an emotional Judi said. "The friendships that we build outside and the support that we give each other in different areas of our lives. This is an area that I don't want to be in - I don't want to have to do this. But we have to and it's heartbreaking and all we can do is try our best to support Brenda and honour her amazing son in such a difficult time.
"We just wanted to be with her yesterday..."
Charlene continued: "Yes, we both popped over to my house and drove over - we had to go and see her because what do you do with somebody when you lose your child when you don't know what the right thing to do is? So we just wanted to be physically with her and Tanisha and to give them all the hugs and love that we could possibly, possibly give them. Not that it's going to help them but we needed to know that they are loved."
She went on to read Brenda paid tribute to her son in a statement earlier today, in which she said she was "completely devastated" by his death.
Brenda had said: "It is with the deepest heartache that I confirm that my beautiful son Jamal Edwards passed away yesterday morning after a sudden illness. Myself, his sister Tanish and the rest of his family and friends are completely devastated. He was the centre of our world.
"As we come to terms with his passing, we ask for privacy to grieve this unimaginable loss. I would like to thank everyone for their messages of love and support.
"Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on. Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA, PHD."
Afterwards, Charlene appeared incredibly emotional and Linda spoke about her own experience with Jamal through her son Louis.
Linda recalled Jamal coming into their lives 10 years ago after Louis started writing his own songs and putting them up on social media, prompting Jamal to get in touch with him.
"He said he'd like to do a video and came to our house and he was the loveliest boy," Linda said. "I was dreading it - I thought, 'A film crew's going to be in my house now'. But he just turned up with a camera man - Louis was really nervous because it was his first time and he just made him feel really comfortable. They took the song and put it on social media and it did really, really well.
"Jamal kept in touch with Louis over the years and took him under his wing. Took him to the BRITs, took him out socially with him as well. Brenda did such a good job with her son because he was a proper gentleman, he really was. He was the loveliest boy.
"Thanks to Jamal now, my son is going on tour this year with Jake Bugg. All of this because of Jamal all those years ago."
Charlene pointed out that Louis' story wasn't a rare one and that Jamal had helped so many young musicians carve out careers.
Judi continued: "We see things in the public but it's things he did outside - even my daughter, he was helping her with an apprenticeship in music and Brenda - you inspire me as a mum."
"Because she did this on her own," Charlene pointed out as they both began to cry. "And like you, Frankie, you knew Jamal from being on this show - the love that she always has when she speaks of her children."
"The pride on her face," Frankie agreed. "Even in that little clip - having him next to her when he's talking, the absolute pride and joy and love that he brought to her. You can just see it coming through. She was like that every time she spoke about her children."
Charlene remembered Brenda being "so nervous" the day Jamal appeared on the programme as she wasn't sure what he would say.
"And he was so proud of her," Frankie said.
After sharing a clip of Jamal on the show back in November, Judi was in tears as Charlene said: "Look at what Brenda did. I think for any parent raising children, it's hard to do it and to do it on your own is even harder and to do it in big cities like London is so, so hard and I'm immensely proud of the mum that she is and what she produced in both Jamal and Tanisha and Jamal's impact will keep going on."
At the end of the show, the panelists read tributes from viewers to Jamal and Charlene said: "We're friends here as well and when one of us hurt, we feel it."
They closed the show to an archive clip Brenda singing Whitney Houston's Greatest Love Of All in tribute to Jamal, leaving viewers in floods of tears.
A string of Brenda's Loose Women stars have paid tribute to Jamal and vowed to support her, with Denise Welch writing: "My heart aches for my friend Brenda. I can’t bear it. Jamal Edwards was a wonderful son and brother [sad face emojis]."
Charlene White shared: "Your light shone so brightly that it touched so many of us, impacted the lives of many more, and changed the game forever. And, you are my Brenda’s son. There are no words to describe her heartbreak, our heartbreak, now that your light has gone. Sometimes life is terribly unfair."
"I have just heard the heartbreaking news that @jamaledwards has died," Saira Khan penned, "I am devastated for @brendaedwardsglobal and send her and her whole family my prayers and deepest sympathies. I met @jamaledwards whilst filming a children's show and was struck by his humility and passion to help kids to believe in their talents."
*Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV
