Debbie McGee: Strictly star recalls the first time Paul Daniels’ death hit her ‘Felt lost’

Debbie McGee, whose late husband, Paul Daniels, died at the age of 77 in 2016, helped a bereaved caller on Channel 4’s Celebrity Call Centre at Christmas.

She was on the show alongside stars including Countdown’s Nick Hewers, former Coronation Street actress Amanda Barrie and comedian James Acaster.

One person called up to ask whether Debbie, 60, believed there’s life after death.

Debbie became very emotional as she spoke out about her late husband and opened up about her own experience with grief.

She said: “When I first lost Paul, because he was ill for only a short space of time, I can remember the first time I went shopping, I was in a department store.

“I really felt like someone had thrown me in the ocean. I didn’t know which way to swim.”

Becoming tearful, Debbie continued: “I felt completely lost and that’s when I really realised he had gone.

“Normally if I was shopping, he would be phoning me and saying what have you bought.”

Debbie added: “That was the first time I really felt he’s really gone and he’s not coming back.”

The former magician’s assistant gave the caller advice to try and move on without their loved one in their life.

“Life has to go on without them,” she said.

The Strictly Come Dancing 2017 contestant also told viewers it was impossible to define grief, as the word has so many different meanings to different people.

“I don’t think it is possible to explain what grief is,” she explained.

“One of the reasons is because grief is different to every single person.

“You are living your life with something missing and you just feel like you’ve got this great big hole in your side and you don’t know what to do to cover it up.”

Meanwhile, Debbie has certainly been keeping herself busy as she’s been performing on stage in a pantomime.

The star has been playing the Good Fairy in Sleeping Beauty in Wolverhampton.

Debbie will be in the pantomime until January 13.

Her stint in the show comes after she reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing last year with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.

Celebrity Call Centre at Christmas is available to watch on catch-up at All 4.

source: express.co.uk