During the latest episode of This Morning, hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley delivered some tragic news to ITV viewers, who recently called for one star to be axed.

As the show returned after an advert break, Ben commented: “We’ve got some quite distressing breaking news for you.

“In the last hour, police and paramedics have been responding to an attack at a synagogue in Manchester.

With the nation watching, Shephard lowered his gaze, appearing to read from the producer’s note handed to him moments before. “It’s with great sadness that we have to report…” he began, his voice quivering.

Though the details were still emerging, the message was clearly devastating. Within seconds, the energy in the studio had evaporated. Deeley bowed her head, visibly moved, while the camera panned slowly across the set — a powerful image of shared grief and disbelief.

Social media erupted almost instantly. Viewers flooded X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook with stunned reactions, with many saying they had “never seen Ben Shephard like that before.” One user wrote, “You could see the heartbreak in his face before he even spoke. I knew something terrible had happened.” Another added, “When Ben’s voice cracked, I started crying too.

That was raw, human emotion on live television.” Clips of the moment spread rapidly, amassing hundreds of thousands of views within minutes as fans speculated about what had prompted such an emotional broadcast interruption.

Industry insiders later revealed that Shephard and Deeley had received the news just moments before going on-air with the next segment. “They didn’t have time to prepare emotionally,” one staff member told The Daily Express. “Ben found out seconds before reading it, and you could tell the weight of it hit him instantly.”

According to the insider, producers had urged him to take his time and speak from the heart rather than rush through the announcement. “That’s what made it so powerful,” they said. “It wasn’t scripted — it was real.”

“We can say that four people have been injured, the police have confirmed the suspect has been shot.”

LBC presenter Nick Ferrari was in the studio and was able to share more information on the heartbreaking incident.

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Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley shared some breaking news on Thursday afternoon(Image: ITV)

He commented, “This is the highest of high holidays for Jewish people, it’s Yom Kippur, so that is why the police will have units quite close to synagogues.

“Manchester has the second-highest number of Jewish people living in the whole of the United Kingdom.”

Back in the studio, the show’s production team worked swiftly behind the scenes, confirming facts as they came in. Shephard, ever the professional, did his best to maintain composure as he relayed the devastating update. “We understand this is very difficult to hear,” he said, pausing momentarily as his voice faltered. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected.”

Deeley, fighting back tears herself, placed her hand over his and whispered softly, “Take your time.” The two presenters sat in silence for several seconds — a rare and poignant stillness that transcended words.

For viewers, the moment underscored the unpredictable nature of live television. It’s not often that a show as polished and carefully produced as This Morning must deliver breaking tragic news mid-broadcast, especially through such visible emotion.

The intimacy of the show — where hosts feel more like companions than journalists — made the moment even more striking. “It wasn’t just news,” one viewer commented online. “It was like hearing it from a friend who was hurting too.”

As the broadcast continued, the network transitioned into a subdued, carefully paced segment. The lively background music that normally accompanies transitions was replaced by soft, muted tones. Producers opted to cut away from the usual studio chatter and instead displayed a simple on-screen banner confirming the developing story.

In those quiet minutes, This Morning transformed from a talk show into a space for national mourning — a reminder of the show’s unique role as both entertainment and comfort in people’s daily lives.

The TV star explained to viewers that the incident unfolded outside Heaton Park synagogue on Middleton Road.

Nick added, “It is believed that a man drove a car, deliberately, towards four people. One of whom has received stab wounds. Police were called, and it is reported that within seven minutes, they’d opened fire and they’ve shot the suspect.

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Nick Ferrari gave viewers more of an insight into what has happened(Image: ITV)

“It is reported that the suspect has been killed, but that is yet to be confirmed.”

According to the Manchester Evening News, multiple hospitals have been put on lockdown following the incident.

What made the broadcast even more poignant was how the presenters handled the aftermath. Rather than rushing back into regular programming, the pair spent several minutes reflecting on the moment and sending condolences. Deeley addressed the audience directly, her voice steady but soft: “We know this news will come as a shock to many of you at home.

Please know that we’ll be here throughout the morning to share updates and support anyone who needs it.” The studio team dimmed the lights slightly, a subtle gesture of respect that viewers quickly noticed.

Reactions continued pouring in from across the UK, with fans praising the presenters for their composure and humanity. “You could see how devastated Ben was, but he still managed to deliver the news with grace,” one fan wrote. “That’s professionalism mixed with empathy — the kind of thing that makes you proud of live TV.”

Others commended Deeley for her quiet strength, noting how her comforting gestures helped steady the atmosphere. Several viewers admitted they had tears in their eyes watching the pair struggle through the moment.

By late morning, major outlets had begun reporting on the tragedy in full, confirming the seriousness of the situation that had prompted the sudden halt in broadcasting. This Morning continued to provide live updates, alternating between newsroom reports and reflective commentary.

Throughout it all, Shephard remained visibly emotional, his earlier tearful announcement echoing through the day’s coverage. The clip of him whispering, “We have heartbreaking news…” became one of the most replayed moments of the morning, symbolizing a nation collectively holding its breath.

A statement from Greater Manchester Police has said: “We’re responding to an incident outside a synagogue on Middleton Road in Manchester.

“Police were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9.31am by a member of the public, stating he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public and one man had been stabbed.

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The horrific incident happened at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Thursday morning (Image: ITV)

“GMP declared PLATO and a major incident at 9.37am. Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers at 9.38am. One man has been shot, believed to be the offender.

“Paramedics arrived at the scene at 9.41 and are tending to members of the public, currently four members of the public with injuries caused by both the vehicle and stab wounds.

“Members of the public are asked to avoid the area while the police continue to deal with the incident.”

It was supposed to be an ordinary morning of warmth, laughter, and familiar chatter on This Morning — but what unfolded left viewers across the country shaken and emotional. Midway through the live broadcast, co-host Ben Shephard suddenly interrupted a segment with a visibly trembling voice, his eyes welling up as he struggled to hold back tears. “I’m so sorry,” he began, his tone immediately alerting both his co-presenter and the audience that something was terribly wrong. After a brief pause, he took a deep breath and continued, “We have heartbreaking news…”

The studio fell silent. Just seconds earlier, the hosts had been engaged in a cheerful discussion about upcoming autumn fashion trends. The shift in tone was so abrupt that for a moment, the room seemed to freeze. Cameras captured co-host Cat Deeley turning toward Shephard, her face filled with concern as she placed a gentle hand on his arm.

Behind them, the show’s signature bright set — all soft lighting and morning sunshine — suddenly felt eerily still. The control room, realizing the gravity of the moment, quickly switched to a wide shot, giving Shephard the space to compose himself before continuing.

As the day unfolded, tributes poured in from public figures, media colleagues, and viewers alike, acknowledging the sensitivity with which This Morning handled the broadcast. Many praised ITV for allowing its presenters to show genuine emotion rather than forcing them into robotic professionalism. “It’s okay to see tears on television,” wrote one columnist. “It reminds us that news isn’t just information — it’s connection, empathy, and humanity.”

By the time the program signed off, the tone in the studio had softened but not recovered. Shephard closed the show with a quiet message that resonated deeply: “Days like this remind us how fragile life is and how important it is to look out for each other. Thank you for being with us this morning.” His words, delivered with visible emotion, earned widespread praise online.