GMB’s Susanna Reid opens up about "painful" loss while marking milestone
Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid has opened up about a "painful" loss as she marked her latest milestone on the ITV morning show.
On Wednesday's (March 22) episode, the star celebrated reaching 20 years on breakfast TV this morning alongside her co-presenter for the day, Ed Balls.
However, Susanna made sure to pay tribute to her beloved late co-star Bill Turnbull, who tragically passed away last year.
"I started with Bill Turnbull, and it is really a shame not to be able to celebrate with Bill," she shared.
"I'd love to be able to text him this morning and talk to him about that. He was absolutely brilliant, but luckily I am surrounded by other brilliant people and so thank you very much for being with me on the journey."
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A photo of Susanna and Bill flashed up on the screen, to which she shared: "Obviously, it's very emotional to see Bill because we've lost him and that still remains very painful. He taught me everything I know about presenting."
Turnbull was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 and shared his news with the world the following year, when he confirmed the cancer had spread to his legs, hips, pelvis and ribs. He spent his last few years encouraging others to get tested.
As for Susanna, alongside her sweet words for her late co-worker, she also shared praise for those who sit beside her today.
"Obviously, a massive thanks to Ben [Shephard], who is not here this morning but we started Good Morning Britain together along with you Charlotte [Hawkins] of course, and Sean [Fletcher] as well," she said.
20 years of @susannareid100 on breakfast television 🙌 pic.twitter.com/CEvhOigtt1
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) March 22, 2023
Susanna then went on to mention her former co-star Piers Morgan, who she sat alongside for five years before he left the show in 2021.
"And just a huge thank you to Piers Morgan of this parish, five years alongside him. He made me bolder, more argumentative, more difficult I think, more probing, asking the tricky questions and going into battle every morning," Susanna said.
"Slightly different since then but definitely a big thank you to everyone I've presented with over 20 years. Getting up at 3.45 and I'm still here.
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Speaking to The Mirror last year, Susanna shared how her role on Good Morning Britain felt different without Piers in the picture.
"We’re still in contact regularly and he’s doing what he does best. [A move to Talk TV] was never on the cards," she said.
"But in terms of how the dynamic’s changed on GMB, I think we have maintained a very lively programme. I’m so lucky, because I get to work with somebody different all the time and it means they don’t get tired of me," she added.
Good Morning Britain airs on ITV.
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