Good Morning Britain presenters Kate Garraway and Adil Ray interviewed 100-year-old veteran Alec Penstone on Friday
Sara Baalla Screen Time TV Reporter
08:41, 07 Nov 2025
GMB: Kate hands guest tissues during emotional conversation
A Good Morning Britain star rushed to comfort a World War II veteran on Friday (November 7) as he admitted, “The sacrifice wasn’t worth it”.
During today’s edition of the hit ITV programme, hosts Kate Garraway and Adil Ray updated viewers with the latest news from across the UK and around the world.
They were joined in the studio by Charlotte Hawkins, who handled the rest of the day’s news, while Laura Tobin presented regular weather forecasts live from Thorpe Park.
Later in the show, Kate and Adil interviewed World War II veteran Alec Penstone ahead of Remembrance Sunday this weekend. Alec is still selling poppies at the age of 100.
Like hundreds of thousands of young men, Alec answered the nation’s call in 1939. At just 15 years old, he volunteered to help move the dead and injured from buildings ravaged by the Blitz.
WW2 veteran Alec Penstone appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday(Image: ITV)READ MORE: Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway leaves viewers confused minutes into live broadcastREAD MORE: Good Morning Britain star rejects big pay cheque for I’m A Celebrity appearance
Just before his 17th birthday, Alec joined the Royal Navy after promising his late father, himself a WW1 veteran, that he wouldn’t serve in the trenches.
Alec was stationed aboard the HMS Campania, a ship that played a vital role in the D-Day landings. When VE Day was celebrated, Alec returned home, where his fiancée Gladys was waiting. They were married for 77 years.
To Alec, his heroes are his father and his comrades who didn’t make it home. During a heartfelt conversation on GMB, the veteran admitted: “I can see in my mind’s eye the rows and rows of white stones of all the hundreds of my friends, they gave their lives for what?
“The country of today. I’m sorry, the sacrifice wasn’t worth the result that it is now… What we fought for was our freedom and even now, it’s [a lot] worse than when I fought for it.”
Kate rushed to comfort the veteran, saying: “Oh, I’m sorry you feel like that because I want you to know that all the generations that have come since, including me and my children, are so grateful for your bravery and all that for service personnel.
Kate Garraway rushed to comfort the war hero(Image: ITV)
“It’s our job now to make it the country that you fought for, and we will do.”
Alec went on: “It’s so wonderful to know that there are people like you who can spread the word around to younger generations.”
Kate concluded: “I can guarantee that everybody watching at home will be wanting to send lots of love.”
After watching the emotional interview, GMB viewers quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their heartbreak, with one person writing: “Well said Alec, already crying and it’s not even 9am.”
Another added: “What an amazing man,” while a third said: “Thank you for your service Alec. I will be lighting a candle for you and your colleagues this weekend.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am
