It was an emotional rollercoaster.
When Jeni Pim, a teacher at Ireland's Ballymaloe Cookery School, took her place on Ryan Tubridy's couch tonight, many Late Late Show viewers were just settling down in their armchairs with a cup of tea.
But the show's opening guest left many in tears tonight after opening up about the death of her husband, Nigel, who passed away from Covid-19 at the age of 51.
Jeni broke down several times over the course of a heartbreaking interview – which she came on air to give less than two weeks after her husband's tragic passing.
Nigel died on January 14 from complications linked to the coronavirus – and a visibly distraught Jeni urged the public to follow public health advice in order to save lives.
She told Ryan: "Nigel was a great man. He was kind and he was generous – he wore his mask from the word go, because he wanted to protect everybody else, because that was the type of guy he was.
"He was such a selfless person. By wearing his mask, which is what we have been asked to do from the start, he reckoned he was doing his part in saving somebody else's life.
"And that's what I'm here for. I just want somebody to look at this and go: 'Do you know what? I am going for a walk with my friend tomorrow, maybe I'll wear my mask when I'm doing that, because I don't want to see that friend in two weeks time and get a message to say they are on a ventilator in hospital.'
"This virus kills people we love."
Viewers took to social media in their droves to hail the bravery of the heartbroken woman.
One wrote: "I hope to god if Jeni speaking on #LateLateShow tonight makes even one person cop on it will be worth putting herself through that interview."
Another observer tweeted: "Jenny, you’re a wonderful woman. I’m sorry for your loss. Well done on coming on and sharing your heartache for the greater good. You’ve made us all think".
