Good Morning Britain viewers were left in tears by the ITV show's emotional interviews with the parents of Stockport attack victims Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King. Elsie, seven, and Bebe, six, were tragically murdered on July 29 alongside Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, when Axel Rudakubana attacked a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space in Southport. In their first televised interview, the parents of Elsie and Bebe opened up about their devastating losses, leaving both Good Morning Britain viewers and hosts Ed Balls and Susanna Reid in tears.
Elsie's parents Jenni and David shared how they will "never feel true happiness again" after the seven-year-old's murder, adding that she was "so much more than that school picture". Speaking about the day of her death, Jenny said: "We just dropped her off to dance and make bracelets, that's all we did. It was something nice for her to do for a couple of hours in the first week of the school holidays.
"There's a lot that's gone over that we should never have sent her but she wanted to go so much. We've spoken about it a lot and we've said, 'She was in the right place and where she wanted to be.'". David added: "All the kids there had every right to be there and had a right to feel safe." Jenni broke down as she share: "If we had been there, it wouldn't' have happened. I might not be here but I would never have let that happen. I'd swap with Elsie any day.".
The deeply moving interview left viewers in tears, with many taking to social media to praise the couple for their courage on speaking out. "That was utterly heartbreaking to watch, those poor people," one wrote on X. "Such courage and dignity...my heart goes out to them and their families," another said. While a third wrote: "Wow - what amazing humans - so very sad for them and hope they can somehow carry on.".
"Such a beautiful yet powerful interview we were all in tears for the family I don’t know how they are managing every day things, sending love and hugs to their whole family xxxxx," another viewer wrote. "You and the @GMB team did a wonderful job showing and making the videos thank you.". Meanwhile, another viewer praised the "heartbreaking tribute", adding: "Elsie was clearly a bright spark in this world, and it’s so important to remember that every picture tells just one part of the story. Sending strength to her family—nobody should have to go through such pain.".
The interviews also left Susanna Reid holding back tears, as the broadcaster spoke to Bebe's parents about their profound grief. Speaking about their final moments with Bebe, her parents - whose identities were protected for legal reasons - opened up about Bebe's final moments. "She was in her pyjamas, we read to her. The family visited her in the final day. We lay next to her and we did our final goodbye," Bebe's mother disclosed.
