Emotional Holly Willoughby’s touching tribute to Sarah Harding after breast-cancer death

HOLLY Willoughby shared a touching tribute to the late Sarah Harding, describing how she "lit up a room".

The presenter, 40, spoke emotionally about the Girls Aloud star's tragic passing from breast cancer yesterday.

"It's so awful, very sad," said Holly.

She later reflected on her friendship with Holly while working on Saturday Showdown with Stephen Mulhern.

Holly told This Morning today: "I met her a few times on Saturday Mornings when she was in Girls Aloud and there was this glamorous gaggle of girls.

"She lit up a room, she was so full of energy."

Holly added: "Our total love to her whole family. We are thinking of you today."

The pop star, 39, revealed in August last year that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Sarah's mum told fans the tragic news yesterday that she had died two months before her 40th birthday.

Ever since her diagnosis, Sarah has tirelessly worked as a cancer campaigner, hoping to spare others from the disease that claimed her life yesterday.

But the 39-year-old's mum insists she wouldn't want to be remembered for the cruel disease.

Marie wrote: "It meant the world to Sarah and it gave her great strength and comfort to know she was loved.

"I know she won’t want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease – she was a bright shining star and I hope that’s how she can be remembered instead."

Brave Sarah had undergone gruelling treatment to beat the cancer, including a mastectomy and intensive chemotherapy since first being diagnosed in summer 2020.

She had put off seeing a doctor because of the pandemic and wanted to urge others not to do the same so wrote a book, called Hear Me Out.

But in March this year she revealed the devastating news that the cancer had spread to her spine and she knew she was dying.

Sarah said: “Writing about my cancer, I found myself thinking, ‘Do I want everyone to know this?

“I kept thinking that if there was a chance just one person who read my story decided to get checked and was treated in time, then it was worth it.

“As scary as it was to go public about my diagnosis, it was the right thing to do, and the amount of support I’ve received is incredible.

“I’ve been inundated with lovely messages from my fans. I’m grateful beyond words for that.”

In her final months, Sarah reconnected with her Girls Aloud bandmates Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts.

The former party girl - nicknamed "Hardcore Harding" spent the night crying and drinking with Nadine after being forced to face her death sentence.