'the worst pain'
The tragic story behind the couple Ant and Dec gave £260k house to on Saturday Night Takeaway after sudden death of baby
THE couple that won a brand new £260,000 home on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway were chosen after the heartbreaking death of their baby daughter.
Petra and Simon Williams were lost for words at the weekend when the Geordie duo gifted them with the biggest prize in the show's history.
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The couple lost daughter Darcey, aged just nine weeks, from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Writing on a Just Giving page last year, the devastated couple said: "Our world was shattered in an instant and life would never be the same again.
"We had to carry on through the worst pain ever for our other children. No one should ever have to plan their child's funeral or bury their child.
"The worst pain ever is to continue breathing when your child has took their last breath. The pain never gets easier and time doesn't heal anything."
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After Darcey's death, Petra went on to launch Darcey's Dream - My Family & Siblings charity to support bereaved families, particularly siblings.
She acknowledged Darcey's twin sister Layla-Grace, three, and older sister Emelia-Paige, five, were "completely overlooked" as the family grieved.
Petra wrote: "Darcey's Dream was founded by myself and set up to support the whole family after the loss or death of a baby or child in any circumstances with a special focus on siblings.
"Siblings should never be overlooked."
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Ant and Dec returned with their hit show after a two year absence and went all out within minutes to give the Williams family the surprise of a lifetime.
Petra and Simon were sat in the audience when Ant and Dec revealed they were giving away a house thanks to property developer Bellway, before showing their children sitting on the sofa in the new digs up in Newcastle.
Bringing the shocked couple onto the stage, the pair revealed they knew all about them, how they had lost their daughter Darcey and how Petra ran a charity which had supported over 2000 bereaved children, and their families, ever since.
Simon had been working six days a week as a delivery driver to earn enough money for the family, and they had never been able to afford their own home.
An emotional Ant told the tearful pair: "That brand new house, that house now belongs to you and here are the keys.
"We couldn't find a more deserving family than you."
Viewers were in tears at the huge gesture, with one writing on Twitter: "In floods of tears at #SaturdayNightTakeaway."
Another tweeted: "If #saturdaynighttakeaway made tissues. Love @antanddec Melts your heart what they have done for that family. #newhome #BeKind."
A third added: "16 minutes in and I’m fully ugly crying, my heart Loudly crying face #SaturdayNightTakeaway."
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The home is also fully furnished, with a dinosaur room for the couple's son and a princess bedroom for their two daughters.
There is also a cosy living room, stylish kitchen and a good sized garden.
Another viewer tweeted: "Omg that was so lovely of them. Giving the couple a home for all their work they have done for Daisys dream. This is why I love this show. Always doing something special for truly sensational people xx."
A fellow fan wrote: "15 mins in and im sobbing like a baby. @antanddec you beautiful humans. #saturdaynighttakeaway."
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