'When I phone home I still want mum to answer': Denise Welch fights back tears as she reveals the pain of losing her beloved mother to cancer

Denise Welch has revealed how deeply she is still grieving for her beloved mother Annie three-and-a-half years after losing her to cancer.

The former Loose Women star opened up on ITV's Lorraine in support of the channel's Text Santa Christmas campaign, which is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.  

Denise said: 'Sometimes you just need your mum and that never goes away. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her, but I just feel honoured that she was my mum.' 

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Denise Welch lost her beloved mother Annie to cancer more than three years ago. Today the TV presenter and actress admitted she is still grieving and misses her everyday

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly, Denise, 57, (pictured with her mother) admitted: 'On a daily basis, I still speak to her', describing how she 'prattles on' to her mother during quiet moments in her car

The former Loose Women star (right) opened up on ITV's Lorraine with Lorraine Kelly (left) in support of the channel's Text Santa Christmas campaign, which is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly, Denise, 57, admitted, 'on a daily basis, I still speak to her', describing how she 'prattles on' to her mother during quiet moments in her car. 

'She was the light of our lives. She was a great mum and we miss her very very much. She battled various different cancers for 20 odd years - valiantly and bravely.'

Choking back the tears, the TV presenter and actress said: 'When I phone home – sometimes I want mum to answer.'

Remembering an operation Annie had 23 years ago when she was first diagnosed with cancer of the soft palate, Denise described her mother as an 'inspiration'.

Denise described her mother Annie as 'the light of our lives' and an inspiration. She said: 'Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her, but I just feel honoured that she was my mum'

Denise leaving the ITV studios this morning after her appearance on Lorraine: 'She was a great mum and we miss her very much. She battled cancer valiantly and bravely,' she said

After 13 hours of surgery to treat her cancer, Denise said she came round looking for her lipstick and with a smile on her face.

'She came through it and we had another 20 years with her,' Denise said.

Explaining the 'fantastic' work of Macmillan nurses, Denise said: 'They were a complete godsend to me and to mum'.

Talking about her mother's final weeks, she added: 'They knew that it was her wish to die at home but they also visited a hospice with her just in case.

'They gave her a calm and were fantastic with my dad.

'It’s the way they word things,' she explained, describing the time close to the end when her mother was riddled with cancer.

Choking back the tears Denise said of her mother:  'When I phone home – sometimes I want mum to answer'

Throwing her support behind ITV's Text Santa campaign, which is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, Denise Welch (pictured leaving the ITV studio this morning) described the Macmillan nurses as a 'godsend'

‘Instead of saying, "How are you?" the nurse said, "Annie, could you bare to tell us how you feel?",' she remembered. 'It’s a special way they have.'

'I was on tour so I was struggling with it.

'But they said to me "Your mum talks about you all the time. The thought she is coming to see you in Newcastle is keeping her going."' 

Sadly Annie never made it to see her daughter on stage for a final time but Denise said the nurse's constant advice helped her cope with the tough times.

Describing her mother's last moments, she said: 'We were all able to be with her when she finally passed.

Remembering an operation Annie had 23 years ago when she was first diagnosed with cancer of the soft palate, Denise described the brave way her mother fought the disease

The actress visisted her mother's grave with her father on what would have been Annie's 79th birthday

'And they [Macmillan nurses] were there talking us through it saying "You might want to come upstairs. You might want to hold her hand now." They were there for us,' she said. 

In a touching clip, aired on the programme, the actress was seen visiting her mother's grave with her father on what would have been her 79th birthday.

Throwing her support behind the Text Santa campaign, Denise said: 'I’m thrilled that Text Santa is raising money for Macmillan nurses. We need more of them.'