Jeremy Kyle psychotherapist Graham Stanier praises widower Rio Ferdinand for being so open about losing his wife
FORMER footballer Rio Ferdinand has been praised by the Jeremy Kyle Show's go-to psychotherapist Graham Stanier for "talking so openly" about the tragic loss of his wife on today's episode of This Morning.
The 38-year-old Manchester United ace lost his wife Rebecca Ellison in 2015 after a short battle with breast cancer. She was just 34.
He spoke candidly about the aftermath of her death on today's ITV show, prompting Graham to give him a virtual pat on the back via Twitter.
Taking to his account Graham, a consultant psychotherapist and TV advisor, wrote: "Respect for talking so openly about your loss ."
The ITV favourite then referenced one of Rio's quotes on the show, and added: "You end up hurting yourself if you dont talk."
Appearing on This Morning, brave dad Rio said telling his young kids, Lorenz, 11, Tate, eight, and Tia, six, was “the hardest point”.
“Before she passed away you have to tell your children that you’re going to go home from hospital and never see your mum again, that’s… I wouldn’t wish that on anybody,” he told presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
“You’re thrown into a situation and you have to deal with it, doing the school run for instance.
“Your appreciation for mothers and how they cope and how they deal with the school run, just doing that... there’s so much more that goes into it that mums do, that many of us men don’t even consider.
"The preparation that goes into it the night before, uniforms, books, breakfasts - and the first time [after] that they had to go to school, and before I knew it they were late.
"And I did think, what am I going to do?
"It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got, or if you’re in the public eye or not, I think we all come under the same type of stresses at that point.”
Rio appeared on the ITV daytime show to discuss Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad, an hour-long one-off documentary that explores grief and life as a single parents.
It airs at 9pm on BBC1 tonight.
Speaking about moving forwards, Rio admitted there is 'no given time' for letting go of grief“What I’ve learned along the journey is that talking is so important
"Talking wasn’t really part of my make up, emotionally. My children need to see me talk, need to feel emotion.
"What I’ve learned is talking doesn’t make the pain go away but it helps itself.”
Rio, who has been linked to The Only Way Is Essex star Kate Wright, 25, is still wearing his wedding ring.
Rio's wife Rebecca was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 but had appeared to be clear of the cancer following treatment.
But a scan earlier in 2015 revealed it had returned and spread to her bones and she died just five weeks later on 1 May.
Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad
The hour-long documentary will air on BBC One tonight at 9pm.
It will then be available on iPlayer, the channel’s catch-up service.
Rio will open up about his life as a widower in the hour-long BBC documentary.
It will explore how bereaved parents manage grief and support their children – and shares how the only way they can truly support them is to rebuild their lives.
The documentary follows Rio blasting the Government for cutting back on the length of time widowed parents can receive bereavement benefits.
Alison Kirkham, controller of factual commissioning and events, said: “Rio Ferdinand has courageously allowed the cameras to follow him in this revealing and immensely personal documentary exploring the complexities of grief.
“This candid film will offer BBC One audiences an intimate exploration of the ways in which men similarly bereaved cope with their loss.”
Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad airs on BBC1 tonight at 9pm