TV star Robert Rinder became understandably emotional on This Morning on Monday during a discussion about Holocaust Memorial Day. The GMB presenter and barrister was on the show to discuss the important day, which is dedicated to the remembrance of the Jews and others who suffered in the Holocaust under Nazi persecution. His mum, Angela Cohen, had been interviewed about her own father’s experiences live in the studio by presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard when Rob joined the discussion remotely.
Rob was visibly moved to tears when he talked about how proud he was of his mother, who is head of the ‘45 Aid Society, a charity set up in 1963 by Holocaust survivors. The society preserves the stories of more than 700 children who were brought to the UK after the end of the Second World War. Her father Morris Malenicky was one of the ‘Windemere Children’ who was rehoused near Lake Windemere when he came to the UK.
Rob, who along with his mother Angela was made an MBE for their services to Holocaust education in 2021, spoke about their work on the show. “It’s been vital and a gift and a privilege and I'm so proud of mum and the survivors and those who go into the world to tell this story,” he said.
“This could just be a story of horror and of trauma and ultimately of despair, but today it is also one of hope so it has empowered me through my mum and the survivors,” he continued. “Also the brilliant British public and young learners across the country, where my mum goes and I have the privilege of going, to see every student from every background, teachers and young learners wanting to learn more so that they can understand ‘how does a democracy under the rule of law, a place that feels as modern as our state does now, descend into depravity?’ They want to learn that message and they want to go into those communities with courage,” he added.
