Ruth Langsford breaks down in tears as she looks back on £33k charity and thinks of her late father

Ruth Langsford broke down in tears during Thursday’s edition of Loose Women, as she revealed her £33k win on Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow was for her late dad.

Looking back on the achievement with her fellow panellists the TV presenter, 60, became emotional and wiped away tears as she said watching the win had ‘set me off again.’

Ruth explained what she was feeling during the game show, saying: ‘I just thought of my dad you know.

Prior to watching the clip, she said: I was very proud on Saturday to play for the Alzheimer’s Society and I made myself cry 

‘Coleen texted me saying she was sat there crying too. When you’re representing a charity that is close to your heart and that card had been the wrong turn we would have lost that money.

‘You have to gamble because £30,000 can help so many people. Even though I knew I’d won I wept like a baby.’

Ruth’s father Dennis had Alzheimer’s disease for more than 17 years before he passed away in 2012 aged 85.  

Emotional: Ruth appeared on a celebrity edition of the show on Saturday with husband Eamonn Holmes, and she broke down after winning the prize money

In tears: Ruth explained what she was feeling on the show, saying: 'I just thought of my dad you know... I was very proud on Saturday to play for the Alzheimer's Society and I made myself cry'

In tears: Ruth explained what she was feeling on the show, saying: ‘I just thought of my dad you know… I was very proud on Saturday to play for the Alzheimer’s Society and I made myself cry’

Helping hand: Ruth went on, 'When you're representing a charity that is close to your heart and that card had been the wrong turn we would have lost that money'

Helping hand: Ruth went on, ‘When you’re representing a charity that is close to your heart and that card had been the wrong turn we would have lost that money’

The TV personality appeared on the pre-recorded celebrity edition of the show and played a modernised version of Play Your Cards Right alongside husband Eamonn Holmes. 

After winning the big money-prize Ruth revealed she would be donating the funds to the Alzheimer’s Society, and then broke down in tears. 

Eamonn took to Instagram after the show to share a picture of his emotional wife alongside a caption that read: ‘She won £30k to help @alzheimerssoc on tonight’s Play Your Cards Right… believe me, she had reasons to shed those tears. 

‘Once again so proud of her for all she does in the fight against this cruel disease.’ 

Tearful: Of her winning moment, she added: 'You have to gamble because £30,000 can help so many people. Even though I knew I'd won I wept like a baby'

Tearful: Of her winning moment, she added: ‘You have to gamble because £30,000 can help so many people. Even though I knew I’d won I wept like a baby’

Good cause: After winning the big money-prize she revealed she would be donating the funds to the Alzheimer's Society

Good cause: After winning the big money-prize she revealed she would be donating the funds to the Alzheimer’s Society

Ruth replied to Eamonn’s message of support with a comment that read: ‘SO emotional. Thank you for always being by my side darling [red heart emoji].’ 

She also recently broke down in tears on Loose Women as she admitted she misses her mum Joan amid the coronavirus lockdown. 

The panel were discussing the last time they ‘had a good cry’ before they shared their recent experiences, and Ruth said she had a ‘little cry in her kitchen’ earlier this week after she phoned her mum Joan. 

She began to tear up again as she recalled how her son had found her crying before putting his arms round her. 

Supportive: Eamonn took to Instagram after to share a picture of his emotional wife and in the  caption wrote: 'She won £30k to help @alzheimerssoc on tonight's Play Your Cards Right...'

Supportive: Eamonn took to Instagram after to share a picture of his emotional wife and in the  caption wrote: ‘She won £30k to help @alzheimerssoc on tonight’s Play Your Cards Right…’

Grateful: Ruth, whose father Dennis had Alzheimer's disease for more than 17 years, replied to Eamonn's message of support

Grateful: Ruth, whose father Dennis had Alzheimer’s disease for more than 17 years, replied to Eamonn’s message of support

The TV personality finished the segment by addressing viewers with: ‘It’s all right to cry, because I’ve just done it on the telly.’    

In June 2019, Ruth’s sister Julia Johnson, 62, who had battled depression for years, was found dead by her husband Paul at their home in Lingfield, Surrey in June 2019.

At the time, the ITV host told viewers her sister had died ‘after a long illness’, with an inquest later ruling she had died by suicide. 

Devastated, Ruth was unable to go to work that week and two months later she left the This Morning studio in tears unable to continue with a phone-in on anxiety and depression.

Candid: Ruth also recently broke down in tears on Loose Women as she admitted she misses her mum Joan amid the coronavirus lockdown

Candid: Ruth also recently broke down in tears on Loose Women as she admitted she misses her mum Joan amid the coronavirus lockdown

Speaking to psychologist Emma Kenny on This Morning in February this year, Ruth spoke in public about her sister’s suicide for the first time, explaining: ‘This happened in my family. I remember my shock at that. It’s the questions it leaves the families’.

She continued with a list of a list of questions family members may have: ‘I should have gone round. I should have phoned. I was going to go round. 

‘I was going to phone. Maybe I should have stayed longer,’ she said.

She added: ‘You are left with the ‘what ifs’. It’s her family now that I think will need so much help.’  

Missing you: The TV personality became emotional when speaking about her family during the show on Thursday morning (pictured with mum Joan)

Missing you: The TV personality became emotional when speaking about her family during the show on Thursday morning (pictured with mum Joan)

Ruth’s husband Eamonn stepped in, reminding audiences that the show’s phone in would focus on depression and anxiety.

Sharing a photo alongside Julia in June last year, Ruth told her Instagram followers: ‘My lovely Sis Julia has sadly died after a very long illness. My heart is completely broken.’

‘She was the kindest and most gentle soul and I will miss her forever. As I am sure you will appreciate I need to take time to grieve with my family. ‘Thank you for your understanding.’

If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org

Much missed: In June 2019, Ruth's sister Julia Johnson, 62, who had battled depression for years, was found dead by her husband Paul at their home in Lingfield, Surrey in June 2019

Much missed: In June 2019, Ruth’s sister Julia Johnson, 62, who had battled depression for years, was found dead by her husband Paul at their home in Lingfield, Surrey in June 2019