Grieving Schoolgirl Dedicates BBC Children in Need Performance to Late Father

In November 2025, a 13-year-old schoolgirl named Emily from Bradwell, Norfolk will take the stage as part of the BBC Children in Need choir. Emily's performance will be a poignant tribute to her late father, Andy, who died just two years ago at the age of 43 after a sudden liver cancer diagnosis.

Emily's family had little time to prepare for the devastating loss. Her mother, Rachel, explains that the cancer was too advanced by the time it was diagnosed, and Andy passed away within days. The sudden tragedy left a profound impact on Emily, who was just 11 years old at the time. "She didn't want to know - it was just too painful," Rachel recalls.

To help Emily cope with her grief, the family turned to the charity Nelson's Journey, which provides bereavement counseling for children. Emily has been working with a support worker, Amy Sale, who has helped her find healthy ways to process her emotions, from "lonely, sad, angry" to a "kind of happy grieving in a positive way."

Now, Emily is ready to honor her father's memory by singing the Coldplay hit "Yellow" live on national television as part of the BBC Children in Need fundraiser. "It'll be difficult not to think of my dad when I sing it," she says. "This is a great opportunity, and my dad will always be at the front of my mind."

Emily's journey has inspired her to give back. She plans to become a young volunteer at Nelson's Journey and join their Youth Panel, using her own experience to help other children navigating the grief of losing a loved one.