‘Why hello Jill’ This Morning moment happened five years ago today and we’re still eternally grateful for Ainsley Harriott-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

It has been five years since Ainsley Harriott was responsible for some TV gold by coming up with the immortal line ‘Why hello Jill’ on This Morning.

The TV chef, 66, had been enlisted by ITV to surprise an unsuspecting Jill Hatton with a series of treats in her home to mark Mother’s Day.

The then 76-year-old’s three children, who all lived abroad, had contacted producers to spoil their mum but it didn’t go exactly to plan.

Alison Hammond was the first This Morning star to greet chill, presenting her with a bouquet of flowers before taking a seat next to her on the sofa.

The former Big Brother contestant, however, wasn’t content with just the bouquet and told Jill she needed ‘more’ including a brand-new TV.

‘Would you like a new TV,’ Alison, 48, asked Jill, who replied: ‘I don’t know.’

Jill Hatton’s children wanted to treat her on Mother’s Day (Picture: ITV)

Despite her uncertainty, a team of crew clutching a huge flat-screen telly promptly arrived in Jill’s living room with the gift.

‘How does that feel?’ Alison said to Jill, who was completely lost for words, with hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford watching on from the This Morning studio.

But that wasn’t the end of it, with Alison announcing: ‘We’ve only got Ainsley Harriott here’ and revealing he was going to whip up a delicious meal for Jill.

Ainsley didn’t fail to make an entrance on This Morning (Picture: ITV )

Sauntering through the kitchen door into the lounge, a beaming Ainsley swivels his hips as he greets Jill with: ‘Why hello Jill’ while holding onto a frying pan.

The moment turned into viral gold, partly thanks to Radio 1 DJ Greg James, who spoke to Jill about the hilarious encounter months after it happened on This Morning.

‘I could just about take it all in,’ Jill told the present. ‘But it’s almost as though it didn’t happen. But I’d like to say thank you very much for all you did.’

Alison was in the room when the hilarious incident happened (Picture: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Asked if she was surprised by the reaction, Jill said: ‘Absolutely staggered. I had no idea at all.’

Greg even had the honour of performing ‘Why hello Jill’ in front of the woman herself, commenting: ‘My year is complete. I’m done, I’ve peaked.

More: Trending

‘That’s the end, this is the best. Jill you a star of Radio One, of This Morning, but also you’re a viral sensation.’

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.

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