A grief-stricken Vinnie Jones opened up about his wife Tanya's death during an emotional interview on Good Morning Britain. Image / ITV, Good Morning Britain
A grief-stricken Vinnie Jones opened up about his wife Tanya's death during an emotional interview on Good Morning Britain. Image / ITV, Good Morning Britain
TV hardman Vinnie Jones has opened up about his wife's death earlier this year in an emotional inteview on UK television.
Jones said he finding out about his wife's terminal diagnosis was like "a sledgehammer hitting you" and admitted the most difficult thing to deal with following her death had been the fact that everyone else's lives had just carried on.
"You're looking around and you go, this is the biggest tragedy of your life — and people are still going to work ..."
"I think we done, in a week, 360 tea bags, PJ Tips, you know, the big ones," he added, describing the days after Tanya's passing.
"You're just sitting there, cups of tea ... and you're just like, 'what has happened?' The enormity ..."
Jones said he was coping with losing the love of his life by keeping busy and had gained some strength from a letter his wife had left for her daughter Kaley.
"We found a letter from Tans to Kaley ... kinda made us strong, saying 'don't grieve, I'll be waiting for you' ... and I believe that. I believe that," he said through tears.
Tanya and Vinnie, pictured in 2007. The actor's wife died in July following a long cancer battle. Photo / Getty Images
Jones also revealed that although he doesn't believe in "all this stuff" he saw an unusual white light in the sky shortly after his wife died, which disappeared after he blew it a kiss.
"I swear to you Piers, it was still there, the light (as he blew the kiss), and it went 'whoo', and it moved — flew to the left ... and gone. Gone. And that was my moment. I knew she'd gone ... and that is me knowing that she is waiting."
Many viewers responded to the raw interview on social media, saying Jones' words had brought them to tears.
That Vinnie Jones interview this morning on @GMB ♡ If that doesn’t make you see what’s truly important in this world then I don’t know what will. Love really is everything. It doesn’t matter the source of that love, whether partner, family or friendship, just make sure you LOVE.
Vinnie Jones wow before a word was spoken I looked at this “hard” man and the pain on his face my eyes just filled I know that pain of losing a loved one and just wanted to send some love @piersmorgan@GMB 🙏🙏👏🏻👏🏻
Even seasoned interviewer Piers was visibly moved, tweeting after the show that the segment with his old friend had affected him deeply.
Thanks to my great old friend @VinnieJones65 for the most stunningly powerful, emotional & inspiring interview imaginable. None has ever moved me more, or sparked such extraordinary reaction. RIP Tanya. @GMB pic.twitter.com/AKWMG775VX
