Eamonn Holmes opened up on his emotional response as he bid farewell to well-known broadcaster John Stapleton.
Mr Stapleton, 79, died last month following a battle with Parkinson’s disease and complications with pneumonia.
The People’s Channel’s Eamonn attended Mr Stapleton’s funeral service on Thursday, sharing on social media how he had shed tears over the loss of his friend and fellow news presenter.
“Just back from John’s funeral service,” the 65-year-old penned on Instagram alongside a photo of Mr Stapleton’s order of service.
Eamonn Holmes paid tribute to John Stapleton after his funeral
| GB NEWSHe continued: “It was also a celebration of Lynn’s life who died during Covid restrictions.
“A loving, respectful send off, a few tears, a lot of laughs and a lot of friends.
“Admiration for their son Nick and the family dog who was there too. Bye John - It was a heck of a life mate.” (sic)
The photo on the front was of Mr Stapleton with his late wife and fellow presenter Lynn Faulds Wood, who died in 2020 following a stroke.
Mr Stapleton's death was confirmed last week by his agent, who revealed he died peacefully in hospital.
The presenter was best known for his work as a presenter and reporter on ITV breakfast television, hosting shows such as GMTV and Daybreak. He also hosted Nationwide and Watchdog for the BBC.
Responding to Eamonn's post, many fans shared tributes to Mr Stapleton, with one writing: "Aw, I loved his talk show in the mornings in the 80s, can't remember what it was called."
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A second penned: "What a lovely couple they seemed. He seemed like a swan without its mate when Lynn died."
"Great man and presenter, as are you, Eamonn. May he rest in peace," another shared before a fourth echoed: "Audience was always in safe hands when either of them were presenting."
"Another amazing human has left this world! Rest easy John," someone else commented while another added: "So sad today thinking of his family & friends."
John Stapleton had shared his experience of living with Parkinson's before his death | GB NEWSEammon appeared on yesterday's Breakfast show on GB News, joining via video link to talk about another late icon.
Eamonn spoke fondly of Jane Goodall, the pioneering primatologist, who died on Wednesday at the age of 91.
Dr Goodall, who became known for her work with apes and environmental campaigning, died in California while she was on a speaking tour in the United States, the Jane Goodall Institute confirmed on Wednesday night.
Eamonn labelled the conservationist "the most impressive individual I have ever met". "She was the most impressive individual I have ever met," he gushed. "I would say the most important, the most talented human being that I've ever met in my lifetime.
John Stapleton opened up about his diagnosis with the degenerative condition | BBC"And we doing the job, are privileged to meet a lot of very impressive people. And my only thing about Jane is not enough people knew about her.
"Those that did know about her were spellbound, absolutely taken in by the gift that she had."
As a photo on screen showed the late anthropologist meeting President Biden, Eamonn continued: "And there she's getting the badge of honor from President Biden."
Another clip showed Dr Goodall being hugged by a chimpanzee, prompting a touched Eamonn to comment: "Now, look at her here.
"The communication that she has with these chimpanzees. Look at this, it is this is just amazing.
Mr Stapleton pictured leaving ITV after the press launch for their new morning show Daybreak, with Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley | PA"That chimp isn't reacting with everybody else around her like that, and the reason is that she speaks the language of that chimp, so she is literally a Doctor Dolittle."
Animal-lover Eamonn continued: "She can talk to the animals and the animals can talk to her. And she learnt the vocabulary over 40, 50 years. Bit by bit, adding to it. And it's just - I tell you, it's eye watering just looking at how that animal can reach out and talk to her.
"And none of us, none of us can do that. And my whole point about her is, and I got to know her over seven years or so and I did many, many interviews with her, and I talked to her personally. But my point is, why... why is nobody teaching us to talk to the animals? Why?
"Why is no one forming a connection between us and cows, us and sheep, us and dogs?