S Poddar
On Thursday on Good Morning Britain, nostalgia waves washed over viewers as Ben Shephard featured on ITV studio once again. Returning to the show for a very significant reason, it was an emotional moment that, besides the studio audience reached deep within a young guest.
Viewers of the show were delighted to see a face as familiar as Ben, who has long been a household name on British morning television. A former host made his much-awaited comeback appearance on the show as 10-year-old Pride of Britain winner Jacob Newson took center stage. Jacob’s story has warmed the hearts of many as he raised over £160,000 in honor of his mother, Andrea, who lost her fight with breast cancer in December 2020.
Jacob was only seven when his mother passed away, but he made it a full-time mission to raise money for the causes that touched his family’s hearts. Among them is St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds, who cared for Andrea during her illness, and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, offering support to serving and former RAF personnel and their families for life. Jacob’s passion for airplanes and flying has now lifted his stature enough to earn an affectionate appellation among well-wishers as “Jacob the Pilot.” He continues wearing that title as proudly as ever, always on his mission to raise awareness and collect funds for the noble causes.
During the show, Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley invited Jacob into the studio, celebrating this young fundraiser’s achievements. He has inspired hope in many people through his strong dedication to honoring his mother’s memory. Well, today had a special surprise in store for Jacob that he could only have imagined:.
The people at Good Morning Britain actually knew how much Jacob loved presenter Ben Shephard, so they decided to have the former host visit the studio and surprise the boy. When Ben walked onto the studio, there was this total look of shock and happiness on Jacob’s face. Ben has always been known to be warm and approachable, and so, he really welcomed Jacob with a big smile. Then, in case that wasn’t enough, Ben had a personal message to be delivered to Jacob from his favorite football team, sending the young lad into tears of sheer joy.
The emotional reunion wasn’t only emotional for Jacob; even viewers watching at home were not spared. Social media was flooded with heartfelt reactions as viewers tuned in to see the touching scene. One of the users wrote on Twitter, “What an amazing and inspiring young man. Cannot stop crying #prideofbritain @GMB.” Other one wrote, “Oh god, I’m crying at 7.45 am, his reaction to being a mascot at Leeds #GMB.” The third one wrote, “It’s been a while since @benshephard has made me cry on @GMB #GMB #Jacob #PrideofBritainAwards.”
The contributions of Jacob have been tremendous in terms of raising funds. He went with his dad, Andrew, on various expeditions all through the UK and abroad to diligently support the causes close to Andrea’s heart. This inspired many others. It was eloquently reflected by his award as the Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year at the Pride of Britain Awards.
And it seemed Ben’s return for this special moment was more than a reunion with an old colleague- it is a potent reminder of the bonds that Good Morning Britain makes with their audience and community. The sentiment of the day was captured so well by Susanna Reid when she said, “Lovely to see you back!”. Tears to the eyes Ben was visibly moved by the offer and smiled with humor and humility before joking with Richard Madeley who responded wittily and, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, said “Fancy taking over, Ben?” The studio was in stitches at this point.
But beneath the jokes, it was obvious that Ben’s return to the show meant something more. He even told during the show, “Gosh, it’s funny being back!” All along, the studio was jubilating not just over the phenomenal success of Jacob but also over how a sense of community, of compassion, and how someone can make a difference regardless of age.
Jacob’s story proves that even with loss, incredible things can still be done. Through his endeavor, it is as if his mother lives on, and with every fund and awareness raised, Jacob buries the story that love and determination can literally make a world of difference.
When the show finally ended, audiences weren’t just left with a segment they were warmed by, but reminded of the meaning of kindness, strength, and the enormous power one person can possess. Watching Ben Shephard was a trip down memory lane, as he ended up on Good Morning Britain, highlighting extraordinary work coming from a young boy whose dedication touched the lives of so many.
