Brighten Your Day

A Lonely Old Man Called Into A Morning Radio Show. What Happened Next Is Wonderful

November 14, 2015

An emotional 95 year-old man named "Bill" called into the Alex Dyke Show, a BBC morning radio program.

Credit: BBC

He told the host, Alex, that he was lonely, which struck a chord with listeners. Alex immediately ordered a taxi to bring Bill to the studio to allow phone-in listeners to chat to him.

Credit: BBC

Credit: BBC

Bill was greeted at the radio station with a hand shake, but Alex knew he needed more than that.

Hang on there, Bill," Alex said as he stood up from behind his desk. "This is a special occasion. Let's do it properly."

Credit: BBC

Credit: BBC

Alex soon found out why Bill was so heartbroken and lonely.

The 95-year-old, from Sholing, married his wife Sheila, 85, on June 2, 2014 after they had been friends for 30 years. Shortly afterwards Sheila - who has dementia and colitis - fell and was taken into hospital. She was then moved into a nursing home, where she now lives.

"Every day is hell. I feel so alone," Bill said to Alex. "She knows who I am and she often says 'we did get married on the second of June didn't we?' - and that's when it hurts."

Credit: BBC

"I listen to the radio and watch TV and have lots of friends, but unfortunately when you get old people don't visit - that's life."

Listeners phoned in to offer support and advice for Bill. He was offered Sunday lunch, afternoon trips out and a ukulele orchestra to play for him, but he kindly turned them all down.

Credit: BBC

"I didn't know such kindness existed," he told one caller.

Alex said Bill had "touched the hearts of thousands of listeners" and it was his "nicest moment in 30 years of broadcasting".

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