This Morning was paused just moments after it began on Thursday, as Ben Shephard shared the "really sad news" of Liverpool football star Diogo Jota's death
Meghna Amin
10:56, 03 Jul 2025Updated 10:57, 03 Jul 2025
This Morning was halted to pay tribute
(Image: ITV)
The programme This Morning came to an abrupt stop moments into Thursday's show as Ben Shephard delivered some "really sad" breaking news.
Only minutes before, the tragic announcement was made that Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota had tragically lost his life in a car accident, occurring less than a fortnight following his marriage.
The 28-year-old father-of-three died in the crash in Spain, which also claimed the life of his brother.
The crash occurred in Zamora, Spain, around 12.30am, with the Spanish Guardia Civil saying in a statement: "The information we have so far is that the car, which was a Lamborghini, was in a road traffic accident and left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking.
"It was in the early hours, 00:30 BST, in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora. The car caught on fire and the two occupants were killed."
Liverpool football star Diogo Jota has died in a car crash in Spain
Liverpool football star Diogo Jota has died in a car crash in Spain(Image: Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
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Ben began the broadcast on a sombre note alongside co-host Cat Deeley and panellists Ashley James and Nick Ferrari, as they grappled with the "really shocking" news, reports Wales Online.
Ben said: "There's just one breaking news story that we're going to bring you, which has literally just broken, which is really sad news."
He went on: "It's really shocking because he's only just recently got married, a father to three young children as well."
Reflecting on the magnitude of the loss, Nick commented: "An absolute tragedy," underscoring the sorrow that fans will be feeling today.
He observed: "Fans are already gathering at Anfield and laying flowers, he was something of a cap hero."
This Morning presenters Cat and Ben
This Morning was halted moments into the show(Image: ITV)
Paying his respects, he said: "He was a big presence, a real fan favourite and you'll see a lot of grief later today at Anfield, I'm sure a lot of fans want to pay their respects.
"It's a truly shocking story at any time, but a 28-year-old man just two weeks after had married his long-term girlfriend, an absolute tragedy."
Ben remarked: "And off the back of winning the Premier League with Liverpool and then Portugal beating Spain in the final of the Nations League, he's had a very big footballing season and then a really special summer marrying his wife."
Diogo Jota with wife and three children
Jota died just days after marrying his wife(Image: Instagram)
"He had a tremendously successful career," Nick concurred, as Ben responded: "Yeah, really, really sad."
Among tributes being paid, Portuguese football club Porto said they are in "mourning" over the deaths of the two brothers, both footballers.
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"Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 international appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself," President of the Portuguese Football Federation, Pedro Proenca, also shared in a statement.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.