• [Dailystar Icon]
• TV
• This Morning

This Morning's Cat Deeley fights back tears as grieving mum opens up on daughter's death

The TV presenter appeared emotional as she interviewed a woman whose daughter died by suicide

[Cat Deeley was visibly emotional]

Cat Deeley was visibly emotional(Image: ITV screengrab)

Cat Deeley was overcome with emotion as a This Morning guest opened up about losing her daughter to suicide.

The TV star held back tears as Sharon Holland shared how 23 year old Chloe died after experiencing abuse at the hands of her partner.

Introducing the bereaved mum on the ITV show, host Ben Shephard explained: "He was sentenced to 41 months for his coercive and controlling behaviour but Sharon believes her daughter's partner should be also held accountable for her death."

Sharon revealed she never met her daughter's partner face to face but was introduced to him on the phone in May 2022.

"Me and her sisters were winding her up on the phone, embarrassing her, like you do," she said. "And then she said he'd just slapped her all of a sudden."

[This Morning]

Sharon Holland appeared on This Morning(Image: ITV screengrab)

Ben said it must have been "so shocking", asking Sharon how Chloe's behaviour had changed.

"I mean, Chloe was too pretty, she never had to wear lots of make-up anyway, so when she stopped doing her eyelashes, she just, you know, she didn't dress the way she did before," said Sharon.

"Quite covered up and everything else. But I noticed more in pictures after we lost her, to be honest with you."

"That must be terrible, though, as a mum," said Cat, looking tearful. "Because if I put myself in that position, to see your daughter, she must have seemed like she was slowly disappearing."

[Chloe Holland]

The grieving mum opened up about losing her daughter Chloe(Image: ITV screengrab)

Sharon, who is trying to highlight the link between coercive control and suicide, also told how Chloe had gone to the police before her death, but later tried to take her own life.

"There were two bridge incidents," she said. "And then on the day, she finally did do it. She tried earlier on in the day and then succeeded at night time. Then we ended up spending 33 days in hospital."

She said it was "really horrific" seeing her daughter on life support in hospital. "Me and my girls went to see her first and they were screaming and crying," she said.

"So we spent, like I say, so many days in ICU. And then once we went for palliative care, we changed wards and it took her nine days to die."

[This Morning]

Sharon Holland spoke to Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on the show(Image: ITV screengrab)

"She was too severely brain damaged," she said. "I sort of knew from the second day of the hospital, the consultant said that she had 5% chance of surviving... And I didn't want my daughter laid there. She wouldn't want to be left like that. So whatever decision I made would have been her decision."

Sharon said she thought the sentence was "absolutely disgusting".

Ben said: "Well, look, this is what the Ministry of Justice has said. Victims of controlling coercive behaviour are now better protected through a law that strengthens the management of dangerous offenders by police and probation, putting this offence on a par with physical violence.

"And then the CPS said, we know more about the link between suicide after domestic abuse than ever before.

"That's why we're linking with police and other agencies as early as we can in investigations so we can work together to bring more successful prosecutions.

"We've raised awareness with our prosecutors to consider murder and manslaughter charges in suicide cases where there is a known context of domestic abuse or other controlling or coercive behaviour."

He asked if it gave Sharon hope and she replied: "Yes, definitely. I mean, the other part of my campaign would have been increase the sentencing for coercive control because it's not enough..

"But you know, they're doing it now. A lot of it's come from losing Chloe, so there's a lot of learning and recommendations. She didn't die in vain."

This Morning airs at 10am on ITV on weekdays

For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.