Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley fights back tears as she recalls ‘skeletal’ mum left palliative care to join birthday meal just days before death

Lisa Riley was visibly upset as she talked about her late mother mustering up the strength to join her for her birthday dinner just days before she died.

The Emmerdale star joined Lorraine Kelly on today’s programme to talk about her grieving process after losing her mother, Cath, in 2012, and was left teary-eyed when a photograph of the two of them together popped up on-screen.

Lisa revealed that her mum was living on just one baby yoghurt a day and was in palliative care when she decided she wanted to celebrate her daughter’s birthday with a meal out.

‘That really breaks my heart that picture because she made such a difference,’ Lisa remembered.

‘It was July 13th, my birthday and she passed July 29th and she said, “darling, I’m coming out for your birthday meal”.’

‘At this point, we’re having all the palliative care… and she was living on one baby yoghurt a day,’ Lisa continued.

Lisa Riley lost her mum in 2012 (Picture: ITV)

‘She came to the restaurant, she was so poorly, and as always, she ordered her garlic prawns.’

Fighting back tears, Lisa continued: ‘She was so ill, but she did it and she was there so forever I can remember it. For my birthday, she made that effort.

‘I think in life, what a legacy to leave.’

Lisa said her mum soldiered on to attend her birthday meal (Picture: ITV)

Lisa, 45, noted that there’s no ‘rhyme or reason’ to grief and that everyone is induvial.

She added that she leant on her best friend for support as the pair were united in their experience of losing a loved one.

More: Lorraine Kelly

‘You’ve got to find your close friends who have been through it with you,’ she advised. ‘We get it, we understand the different issues with pain.’

Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV.

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