Lorraine Kelly leaves ITV co-stars 'crying' as she shares news of 'very special' arrival

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has been inspired by her one-month-old granddaughter Billie to increase her efforts in raising funds and awareness to beat breast cancer

Lorraine Kelly is absolutely thrilled as she reflects on singing her "very special song" Love Is All Around to her newborn daughter Rosie three decades ago, and now she's serenading her one-month-old granddaughter Billie with the same melody. The beloved TV host has even teamed up with Marti Pellow to re-record the cherished track as a charity single alongside her Change and Check Choir.

Lorraine, beaming with happiness, shared that baby Billie is the "bestest thing" motivating her to intensify her efforts in fundraising and spreading awareness to defeat breast cancer, vowing to protect her dear granddaughter from the disease. "It's fantastic," said an elated Lorraine, 64, who's wholeheartedly embracing her new role as a first-time grandmother.

"I'm going there this afternoon to make sure Rosie gets a wee sleep and Steve, her partner, has a wee walk out in the fresh air and just to do whatever I can. I would live in the garden, in a hut, just to get cuddles. The best thing in the world is just cuddling this wee, tiny, little precious thing."

She continued: "I would love her to grow up in a world where she didn't have to worry about breast cancer. That would be the best thing ever. Maybe in her lifetime she's only one month old. The advances that are happening, the science is incredible."

Since launching the Change and Check campaign in 2019, which she started with her producer Helen Addis following Helen's diagnosis of grade three invasive breast cancer, Lorraine has been a passionate advocate for the cause, as reported by OK!, reports the Mirror.

Across the UK, changing rooms in stores have been fitted with educational stickers promoting breast self-examination, thanks to an impactful national sticker campaign. This initiative has led 100 women to credit the stickers with helping them detect their cancer early, facilitating prompt treatment.

For campaigners Lorraine and Helen, this achievement stands as the pinnacle of their professional efforts.

Reflecting on the importance of the campaign, Lorraine expressed immense pride: "We love what we do it's a wonderful show. But the thing I'm definitely most proud of is this campaign. It has saved lives and it has the potential to save even more. Every single time we do it, we're finding more women and that is making a difference."

The vitality of the campaign was celebrated last year when Joss Stone got involved, resulting in her collaboration with Lorraine's Change and Check Choir for the chart-topping single 'Golden'. Now, building upon that success, Lorraine is collaborating with Marti Pellow after they spontaneously paired up on James Martin's Saturday Morning show.

Lorraine shared insights into their work together: "Marti always wanted to do something for this special 30th anniversary of Love Is All Around and it just made sense."

Lorraine Kelly has shared a heartfelt connection with the Change and Check Choir, which is made up of breast cancer patients and survivors, after performing with them. She revealed her personal tie to the song they sang, saying, "This song is very special to me," and added, "It's like the soundtrack of everybody's life, isn't it? Thirty years ago my Rosie was born and that was our song in many ways. It's a very special song so I had to be part of it."

During the emotional recording session, Lorraine opened up about the experience: "The whole thing was very, very emotional. Marti said to me, 'When you record something that means something, something will happen in the room.' I didn't know what he meant, but then I did."

She also confessed, "I broke down in tears during the session," and continued, "Marti recorded his bit, then he helped us record our bits, then we all sang it together, just with the piano. I burst into tears, as did so many people, because it was just overwhelming. Marti is so kind."

Even for Marti Pellow, former lead singer of Wet Wet Wet, singing this particular track since its release in 1994, the experience of performing with the choir brought him to tears.

Delving into the profound impact of music on coping with loss and facing the realities of cancer, Marti reflected on its emotional significance, saying, "If you have a beating heart, why wouldn't you? " His emotional remarks carried on: "Especially when you hear the circumstances. Once you come to a certain age in your life, you become very much aware of cancer. There isn't any family that hasn't been touched with that. Whether it's friends or family who have fought the disease or who didn't make it through, you cannot fail to be touched by that."

The recording turned poignant as Lorraine Kelly and others paid homage to those they've lost to breast cancer. Recounting her personal experience, Lorraine recalled: "It was for the people that weren't there. Very sadly, my grandmother Margaret died from breast cancer. It was long ago, but you still remember it."

In addition, Lorraine discussed how the choir brought comfort and solidarity: "We all felt very grateful," she said, articulating the sense of sisterhood and empathy present: "There was an attitude and there was the fact that we were all doing it together. There was a real sisterhood and an awful lot of kindness and compassion in the room. I wish I could bottle the atmosphere in there and spray it around. It was lovely."

Lorraine Kelly and singer Marti Pellow are not just aiming to raise funds with their single, but also to boost the nation's morale. Reflecting on his early memories, Marti shared: "When I was a wee boy, I remember my mam singing and me connecting with her in a way that was quite profound," adding, "When she was singing she was happy and as a child that spoke to me more than the spoken word did. That's the power of music."

Lorraine agrees about the uplifting nature of song, admitting: "I do sing around the house," and revealing, "I've been singing all the time to Billie. I think it's really important to sing to kids. I'm not a good singer but I can hold a tune and singing makes you feel better."