GOOD Morning Britain anchors Ed Balls and Ranvir Singh were left choking back tears as they reported on the heartbreaking murder of three young girls in Southport.
The ITV presenters had wrapped up a heart-wrenching interview with Good Morning Britain correspondent Nitya Rajan, who was presenting live from the scene of the stabbing, when the emotion hit.
A 17-year-old is currently being quizzed by cops for murder of the three schoolgirls – who have been named publicly as Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar – and attempted murder.
As they talked about the aftermath of the Merseyside knife rampage the daytime TV hosts – who are both parents themselves – were understandably touched.
They read out the emotional statements from the parents of the young victims – who were spending their summer holidays attending a Taylor Swift dance class – leaving Ranvir, 46, to admit: “It’s difficult to talk.”
Former Labour politician Ed, 57, then let out a huge sigh of agreement.
After the chat with Nitya, Ed referred to the event – based on the US pop star – which had seen the kids making Taylor’s iconic friendship bracelets.
These are traded at her gigs – with Ed recently admitting on GMB how he had spent the weekend crafting them with his own children before they saw the Blank Space songstress perform live.
Fighting back his feelings he said: “That reference to making bracelets… young girls at a Taylor Swift dance club at the beginning of the school holidays, making friendship bracelets.
‘Which of course at concerts they give to strangers.
“And a stranger comes into the room and devastation occurs.
“It’s just shocking.”
Ranvir added her own tribute as images of the adorable girls were played out on-screen.
She said: “Good Morning Britain, these are the pictures of the innocent lives that were taken far too soon.”
Earlier in the week, The Sun exclusively reported how Ranvir and Ed will be at the helm of Thursday’s episode – as Kate Garraway continues her absence from the show.
What we know so far…
Teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, is understood to be fighting for her life in hospital after “bravely trying to protect” kids at the Hart Space Studios.
Her colleague Heidi, also 35, escaped uninjured after heroically locking some of the children inside a toilet to keep them safe.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Hayes, 63, ran into the dance studio and tried to fend off the attacker moments after hearing screams from his nearby office and was stabbed in the leg.
Last night, Southport was the subject of huge violence as a mob clashed with police outside a mosque, close to the scene of the stabbing.
Rioters set fire to police vans and left officers with bloodied faces after the sick night of violence from far right thugs.
Good Morning Britain reporter and ITV News Anchor Paul Brand appeared on the episode to detail how he had been approached by rioters in hoodies last night.
He told Ed and Ranvir how it was clearly a pre-arranged event with those in question who “really didn’t want us to be there.”
A clip then played out showing him being led away from the gangs.
