Holly Willoughby breaks down in tears as she interviews parents of autistic teenager on This Morning

The presenter failed to keep her composure on the ITV show

Emma Powell7 March 2016

Holly Willoughby broke down in tears on This Morning as she interviewed the parents of an autistic teenager.

Robin and Isabelle Garnett were on the ITV show to explain how their son Matthew has been held "like a prisoner" inside a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for six months.

Willoughby, 35, was unable to speak and wiped tears from her eyes as the Garnett’s told their story, leaving co-host Phillip Schofield, 53, to take over.

She also fought back the tears when a clip of Matthew before and after he was admitted to the psychiatric unit was shown.

Speaking about her son, Mrs Garnett said: “It’s absurd, it’s absurd, it’s insane, forgive the pun, that the nearest possible unit that can help my son is in Northampton, that there is no psychiatric unit specialised for children in the South East of England – the most densely populated area in the UK – it is absurd. Why?”

Viewers were quick to throw their support behind the couple on Twitter with many expressing Willoughby's emotions.

The couple have started an online petition calling for Alistair Burt MP and NHS England to find the teenager a space in a specialist autism facility where he can get the treatment he needs.