Terrence has struggled with loneliness (Picture: BBC)

BBC Breakfast viewers were left in tears after the show organised a Christmas surprise for Terrence, a 78-year-old who struggles from loneliness.

And if that clip made you tear up, well, you may need a jumbo box of Kleenex for this latest surprise.

Dan Walker revealed that BBC Breakfast took Terrence along to see John Barrowman’s A Fabulous Christmas show at Sheffield City Hall on Thursday night.

And as well as getting to see the entertainer live, Terrence was treated to a performance of his favourite Christmas carol – from the entire venue.


In footage that is bound to leave you in tears, Terrence could be seen looking around the hall in awe as everybody in the room sang Silent Night – which he said was his favourite carol.

However you feel after the #GeneralElection this morning I’m pretty sure we can all unite around this… we took Terrence to see @JohnBarrowman last night & the whole of @SheffCityHall sang him ‘Silent Night’. Full story on Monday’s #bbcbreakfast 😭👏🏻

Thank you John & @age_uk pic.twitter.com/W0LasY3OUK — Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) December 13, 2019

Terrence looked overwhelmed with the surprise (Picture: Dan Walker)

The attendees of the show held up their mobile phone torches to wave lights as they sang the hymn, with piano accompaniment coming from the stage.



Terrence looked overwhelmed in the clip, as he held his hands over his face.

Dan, 42, uploaded the video to Facebook and Twitter and wrote: ‘However you feel after the #GeneralElection this morning I’m pretty sure we can all unite around this… we took Terrence to see @JohnBarrowman last night & the whole of @SheffCityHall sang him ‘Silent Night’. Full story on Monday’s #bbcbreakfast 😭👏🏻.

‘Thank you John & @age_uk.’

People praised BBC Breakfast for organising the emotional surprise, with one person tweeting: ‘I hope this guy has made loads of new friends who’ll keep in contact with him. Well done Dan!!’

Terrence had appeared on the show earlier in the day on Wednesday (Picture: BBC)

And another person commented: ‘The true spirit of Christmas!! Thank you Dan and all who made Terry (and everyone else moved by this wonderful act) very, very happy!!’

Age UK also praised Dan, saying: ‘A big thank you to @JohnBarrowman and the crowd at @SheffCityHall for giving Terrence such a wonderful evening. This is truly heartwarming. @mrdanwalker we can’t thank you and @BBCBreakfast enough for everything you’ve done for Terrence. A true example of Christmas spirit.’

An Age UK volunteer himself, Terrence appeared on BBC Breakfast earlier in the week to discuss loneliness, having spent the last 20 Christmases on his own since his mother passed away.

The emotional story touched the team and viewers so much that they decided to surprise Terrence with a Christmas tree, brought to him by students from Oldham College.

As Terrence saw his surprise he broke down in tears of happiness, and Dan was on hand to give him a tissue to dry his eyes.

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Dan also opened Terrence’s front door a second time to reveal a choir singing Silent Night on his doorstep, making him weep with joy once more.

Chatting in his living room, Dan said: ‘I think the thing that really struck home was when you were mentioning how many times you’d been on your own on Christmas Day.’

Terrence explained: ‘What used to happen I used to go round to my mother’s on Christmas Day because I always cooked a meal for her here. I used to buy little bits and wrap them all up and put them in a pillow case and take them around to her.

‘I’ll never forget her saying to me, “Without you bringing me presents at Christmas I wouldn’t have any presents.” I often think about that now, people who are on their own now don’t get any presents from people.’



Terrence told Dan that because of his work with Age UK, he has someone to enjoy Christmas dinner with this year.

He will be spending time with Nancy, 90, who is suffering from dementia.

For information on how to help Age UK, please visit their website.

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