Denise Welch shares moving phone call with son Matty Healy on Loose Women in honour of late father

Denise and Matty had spoken of how just two years ago Vin Welch was the life of the party on holiday in Turkey
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Denise Welch took a moment on Loose Women today to pay tribute to the "life well lived" by her father on the anniversary of his death.

In the segment, the Tynemouth-born actress also spoke of a call shared with son and The 1975 frontman Matty Healy with an anecdote on the behaviour she remembers her dad by.

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Denise said: "Today is a year since my dad died, but I'm trying to flip the narrative. I want it to be a celebration of a life well lived because nobody who knew my dad could ever say he didn't live his life.

"I was just saying to Matty on the phone before, although it was September 28 last year when we lost him, the year before that, 2020, I was in Turkey with him and having to ask strangers to make sure my dd gets back from the party okay at four o'clock in the morning!

"Every single day somebody reminds me of something he said or did. My dad was the one person in the world who never judged me. I deserve to be judged, but he was the person who never judged me.

Denise paid tribute to her late father on Loose Women (Image: ITV)Denise paid tribute to her late father on Loose Women (Image: ITV)
Denise paid tribute to her late father on Loose Women (Image: ITV)

"My sister and I were incredibly lucky that we were allowed to be with him in the end - there are a lot of people who have lost people over these last two years who have had to say goodbye without being with them."

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The former Waterloo Road actress grew up on the North East coast, attending schools in Whitley Bay and Newcastle.

Denise and her family would then move to Ebchester in County Durham where Vin, an actor and entertainer in his own right, would stay when his daughter moved to the North West. He also worked in the family sweet business in Whitley Bay.

Vin passed away at the age of 84 last year. He was a keen golfer at Stocksfield Golf Club, where he scored his first-ever hole-in-one at the ripe age of 80 after 65 years of trying.

When he passed away last year, Denise released a statement that read: "The words I’ve dreaded saying all of my life.

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"Last night at 11 pm, we lost our dad, the life force that was Vin Welch. After making a miraculous recovery recently from major surgeries, pneumonia plus his existing pulmonary fibrosis was more than even he could take.

"He left us surrounded by his family who could not have loved anyone more.

"I can’t quite function as I’m so grief stricken, but I know he meant so much to so many people, even those who’d never met him.

The Loose Women panel on Wednesday lunchtime (Image: ITV)The Loose Women panel on Wednesday lunchtime (Image: ITV)
The Loose Women panel on Wednesday lunchtime (Image: ITV)

"I’ve never seen anyone fight to stay longer at a party than dad and last night was no different.

"He loved life and lived it to the full like no other.

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"The nurses in Ward 6 at Durham University Hospital will forever be in our hearts as they gave dad the most peaceful passing anyone could wish for. They adored him and he them. Heather, Helen, Lauren, Naz, Chloe, Graham, Debs to name but a few. We will NEVER forget you.

"Love you dad. Heartbroken."