Viewers were left in tears after a father with Alzheimer’s broke into song in an emotional video message – thanking his son for his support.
Ted McDermott, 81, from Blackburn, began singing Julio Iglesias’ Amor, Amor, Amor to his son Simon in a clip on this morning’s Lorraine.
Simon’s mother Linda also thanked him for his support in the touching message, after he gave up his job in London to move back home and care for his parents.
Ted – who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2013 – and Simon went viral in 2016 after appearing in a carpool karaoke clip singing Quando Quando Quando, which was viewed over 60million times.
The pensioner went on to be given a recording contract, recording Frank Sinatra’s You Make Me Feel So Young at Abbey Road studios.
Alzheimer’s suffer Ted McDermott, 81, from Blackburn, began singing Julio Iglesias’ Amor, Amor, Amor to his son Simon in a sweet clip
Simon looked emotional after watching the video message from his parents on Lorraine
Simon was left emotional after watching his parents’ video message, in which his mother Linda said: ‘We just want to tell you how much we love you.
‘How we really appreciate how you gave up your job in London to support and care for us. You are our sunshine.’
Meanwhile, Ted began applauding, before singing the words: ‘For every night and every day I’m thinking of you.’
Viewers at home were also left emotional after watching the video message, while praising Simon as being an ‘inspiration’.
Viewers were quick to react to the moment, describing how they had been left in tears
One commented: ‘Had me in tears. What am amazing man and son to his parents. So beautiful.’
Another added: ‘Such a fabulous son & person you are. Well done for being a rock to both your mum & dad’.
Meanwhile, one simply commented: ‘Brought a tear to my eye’.
During the interview with host Christine Bleakley, Simon explained how much singing had helped his father – a former Butlins redcoat – saying ‘it brought him back’.
He said that he used to take him out on long drives, while singing to backing tracks, in order to calm his aggression.
In the video, Simon’s mother Linda said: ‘We just want to tell you how much we love you’
Simon had been discussing his father Ted’s struggle with dementia during the programme
‘We used to drive around for hours and hours,’ Simon said. ‘He loved it. It was a good thing for me as well, because I was cracking up. It was a great thing.
Simon admitted the time around his father’s diagnosis as ‘awful’, describing how he would have to go back up home to Blackburn to help his mother.
‘We could handle dad getting forgetful. but it was the aggression and the violence,’ he said.
‘Dad was never that violent before, the only way I can describe it is like living in a horror movie.
Ted and his son Simon went viral in 2016 after appearing in a carpool karaoke clip singing Quando Quando Quando that was viewed over 60million times
Ted went on to be given a recording contract, recording Frank Sinatra’s You Make Me Feel So Young at Abbey Road studios
Ted had always loved singing in his earlier years, and was a former Butlins redcoat
‘I was getting these awful phone calls from my mum, with dad’s aggression. my mental health had gone out of the window
‘If I’m honest, It was probably like domestic abuse, with the aggression. It was awful, it was really really bad.’
After Ted and Simon’s carpool karaoke video was posted online, it was watched by more than 60million people – raising £125,000 for charity.
Ted – who became known was the Songaminute Man, was later given his own record deal, after a Decca company executive spotted the video online.
He recorded Frank Sinatra’s You Make Me Feel So Young at Abbey Road Studios, and the song was released as a single.
Simon has now written a memoir on his father’s life, entitled The Songaminute Man.