Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh candidly revealed why she dreads New Year’s Eve and feels a sense of foreboding during this time of year.
The presenter, 46, opened up during GMB on Friday about the devastating death of her father when she was just nine-years-old which has left her with trauma around New Year.
Joining Richard Madeley for the programme they shared a video from widow Ali, who volunteers for charity Grief Encounter, which supports families during after the loss of a loved one.
Ali lost her husband and was left a single mum to their children, a situation Ranvir could somewhat relate to.
Speaking after the clip, she confessed: ‘It really resonates with me because I wish Grief Encounter had been around for me when I was nine because my dad died when he was 42.
‘I had a really similar story to Ali’s actually and it makes me really grateful that Ali’s there doing volunteering for other families and she was supported by Grief Encounter because I never had any of that.’
Asked by her Richard if it was a sudden death, she explained: ‘He had a heart attack. He was 42 years old and I was nine years old.’
The star then revealed that it wasn’t until recently that she began to understand why she absolutely hated New Years and why she associated it with a sense of foreboding.
She continued: ‘Given that we’re heading into New Year’s Eve, it took me until about four or five years ago to understand why I absolutely have always hated New Year’s Eve because my dad died on January 21st but I never understood why I had a sense of foreboding about this ‘greatest night of the year’.
‘As I said to you, I’d much rather be in bed but now I understand why I don’t like this time of year – it’s because just around the corner was something terrible and every year since the age of nine I felt this weird sense of dread.’
‘Did he die at home?’ Richard asked, to which Ranvir responded: ‘No, no. But what I’m saying is that it’s fantastic what Grief Encounter do and it’s a lovely thing that Ali does.’
Ranvir has been standing in for Kate Garraway on GMB as her co-host keeps vigil by her husband Derek Draper’s bedside.
Former political adviser Derek, 56, is in ‘a very serious condition’ after suffering a heart attack earlier this month that left him ‘fighting for his life’.
Amid the heartbreaking struggle, Kate was inundated with messages of support from Britain Get Singing viewers on Sunday.
Kate, 56, performed East 17’s 1994 Christmas number one hit Stay Another Day with her Good Morning Britain co-stars Charlotte Hawkins, Alex Beresford, Laura Tobin and Dr Amir Khan on the ITV programme in a bid to show how singing together can help us feel more connected and support our mental wellbeing.
Broadcaster Kate’s turn on stage, which was filmed before Derek’s heart attack, left viewers feeling emotional, with many reaching out to show their support for her while Derek is in hospital.
In March 2020, Derek fell seriously ill with Covid-19, which left him with long-lasting damage to his organs and needing daily care.
Doctors put him in a medically induced coma and he became the longest-suffering coronavirus patient in the UK after spending 13 months in hospital away from his family.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
