Holly Willoughby struggled to keep his emotions in episode This Morning monday, remembering the time he had to tell their children the story.
The 35-year-old presenter struggled to hold back tears next co-presenter Ben Shephard as she admitted that inform their children Harry, 7, Belle, 5, and two-year-old Chester was the “thing difficult ever had to do. ‘
Talking on the ITV morning show, she explained: ‘It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I said to them, ”Roxy was not very well, she went to heaven.
But Peaches [their former pet] was waiting for her, as was your grandfather, so all three of them will be looking after one another.”
Before adding: ‘I think it helped them to know she won’t be on her own.’
Holly announced on the show that their beloved cat had died over the weekend, passing away peacefully but suddenly in her sleep.
The blonde, who has three children with TV producer husband Dan Baldwin, continued: ‘There had been nothing wrong with her. It was a real shock for everybody. She was a big part of the family, always been there for the kids.’
Although she was heartbroken herself by the loss, the Celebrity Juice captain found it harder breaking the tragic news to her three young offspring, further calling the experience ‘a very big life lesson’.
She recalled, trying to hold back her tears: ‘Belle was wailing, Harry was very quiet and didn’t really say a thing.
‘But before bed he went, ‘I’ve been really brave today, I haven’t cried.’ And I said, ‘It’s OK, you don’t have to be brave.’ And then he went [started crying].’
Becoming too overwhelmed the continue, Ben then stepped in so Holly could collect her emotions together – talking about the upsetting time he and his sons Jack, 11 and Sam, 9, discovered their rabbit had been killed by a fox.
The pair then opened a call in session for viewers who are also struggling with pet bereavement, and with young families who are struggling to deal with it.
Holly added: ‘I feel a bit silly saying it because it’s only a cat but it’s part of your family. We thought we’d have a phone in of this today because it affects so many people.’
The Brighton-born presenter first confirmed the news on her Instagram on Friday, writing next to a sweet photo of her feline companion: ‘Goodbye my friend… RIP Roxy’ followed by a heart-broken emoji.
The snap garnered over 15,000 likes and 800 comments from sympathetic fans, wishing her well during the sad time for the family.
Roxy was known by many This Morning fans, after Holly brought her onto the show for a pet psychic feature back in 2010.
One fan wrote: ‘What a beauty Roxy was’, while another reassured the presenter by writing: ‘I’ve just seen you telling the story on this morning Holly. It’s so sad when you lose a pet, don’t ever feel stupid for getting upset.’
