GMB's Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard fight tears as beloved guest dies aged 7

27.01.2022 - 22:55 / ok.co.uk

Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway fought back tears as the Good Morning Britain presenters opened Thursday’s show with the news that beloved former Isla Caton has died at the age of seven. Isla’s tragic death from cancer had been announced by her parents on social media. Isla, from Essex, was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, when she was just two years old.

Ben opened Thursday morning's show with the devastating news, saying: “We are going to start with some sad news, though many of our viewers I'm sure will remember our guest, seven-year-old Isla. “Very sadly Isla's family posted this tweet on Tuesday.” Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter. You can sign up at the top of the page.

Kate then proceeded to read out Isla’s parents’ statement, which said: “It is with the heaviest of broken hearts that we must announce Isla gained her angel wings. “It was very peaceful and surrounded by the continued love of Nicola, Michael, and Millie.” Kate concluded that it was: “Very sad but wonderful for her and her family that she got to see some of that love.” Isla appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain earlier in January to help her mum Nikki’s fundraising campaign. Isla’s family has raised thousands of pounds to fund treatment and cancer trials.

The little girl was a dedicated West Ham football club fan and has appeared as a mascot at matches. Club captain Mark Noble released a tribute, which Ben read with a shaky voice.The tribute read: “I was first introduced to Isla when I carried her out as a mascot in Bournemouth in 2018, it was very clear she was a very special girl. “She will never be forgotten, she will be part of