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TIMMY Mallett was overcome with emotion as he shared his heartbreak about the death of his brother.

The TV veteran revealed he went on 1,200 mile cycle five days after his brother's death to raise awareness for mental health.

 Timmy Mallett was heartbroken as he opened up about his late brother
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Timmy Mallett was heartbroken as he opened up about his late brotherCredit: Rex Features

TV AM star Timmy, who became a household name for being an eccentric TV presenter from the 80s, was devastated after his brother Martin passed away earlier this year.

Martin had Down's Syndrome, and was an inspiration to his brother Timmy, after doctors saying he would not live past his teens.

And his courageous fight encouraged Timmy to take on an epic bike ride from the UK to Santiago in Spain.

Timmy, who sat on Lorraine's sofa in his trademark vibrant colours complete with a flat cap,  got a surprise along the way when he did the trip.

 Lorraine Kelly had a heart to heart with Timmy Mallett on the show
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Lorraine Kelly had a heart to heart with Timmy Mallett on the showCredit: Rex Features
 He was so close to his brother Martin who had Downs Syndrome
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He was so close to his brother Martin who had Downs SyndromeCredit: Rex Features

Lorraine and her husband Steve surprised him half way.

They cycled the Camino pilgrimage route to the Santiago De Compostela in honour of his brother, Martin, who had Down syndrome and recently suffered from dementia before his death, aged 64.

Timmy considered abandoning the cycle due to his brother's death, but instead found a special way to pay tribute to him and ensure Martin was present with him along the entire route.

Timmy left tributes to his late brother on his trip on the Camino pilgrimage, after his brother died just five days before Timmy set off.

 Timmy Mallet looked the business as he prepared to share his story
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Timmy Mallet looked the business as he prepared to share his storyCredit: Rex Features

After Martin died, Timmy's brother Paul discovered bundles of clothing labels with Martin's name on them, and decided to leave these at various places along the route to make sure he carried Martin with him.

Timmy said: "Five days before I set out Martin passed away and this threw everything into confusion because suddenly it changed the aspect of how I was going to mark this journey.

"My brother Paul found these in amongst his things - he found these Martin Mallett name tags - the sort of thing you would sew into your clothes when you go to school so you don't lose them.

"I had a bundle of these and I decided every day I would leave a Martin Mallett name tag somewhere special."

He added: "Martin is at a great view, he is at a wayside marker, he is in a vineyard, a castle, a cathedral, and he is everywhere along this journey and it became a wonderful thing to be able to carry my brother in my heart and my bike."


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