Ruth Langsford has discussed the profound effect of her sister's death. The former This Morning host tragically lost her sister Julia to suicide in 2019.

She talked about the heartbreaking loss in her book Feeling Fabulous and addressed it during a recent podcast interview. During an emotional appearance on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, she was asked about how she coped with losing her sister when Julia was just 62.

Fearne remarked to Ruth that it was "so moving and beautiful" how Ruth portrayed and wrote about Julia in her book before enquiring what Ruth believed had assisted her in managing grief.

In reply, understandably becoming emotional, Ruth discussed the consequences of losing someone to suicide and the overwhelming question such a tragedy creates.

She said: "I think suicide is just, it's such a tragedy and the people left behind are just left not knowing why. And your question is just 'Why? Why? Why? Why?' And then, as time has gone on, I've accepted that I'll never know why and nothing will bring her back."

Describing how she commenced the journey of trying to progress and recover and to live once more, Ruth continued: "The only way that I can make any sense of it and stop it hurting is to just know she didn't want to be here and nothing I could have done could have changed that really. Because you think 'If only I should have rung her more, I should have done this I should have come down'.

"You just think you could have done something. Why didn't we see it? How could we not have seen it? Why didn't she talk to us? Why? Why? Why? And there are no answers because she'll never be able to tell us why."

Ruth continued to explain that one of the principal motivations driving her recovery was understanding her sister would not wish her to lead a sorrowful existence and that she would not desire that for Ruth.

She concluded: "I just miss her so much but I know she would not want me to have sad life and I did a lot crying I did a lot of time off work and then I thought, 'She doesn't want this for you'...you need to get back out there. And work has always been my saviour actually."

For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.