Bonnie Tyler, the iconic singer known for her powerhouse ballad 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' has died at the age of 75. The news was confirmed in a statement on her official website, which revealed that she passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday night (July 8) in a hospital in Portugal, where she was being treated for an illness.
This Morning Presenters Lead Emotional Tributes
During the July 9 episode of ITV's This Morning, hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley honored Tyler's legacy alongside regular contributors Nick Ferrari and Nicola Thorp. Ben announced the sad news to viewers, saying: 'Really, really sad news has been announced just a few moments ago on Bonnie Tyler's website. The singer has sadly died at the age of 75.'
Nick Ferrari, a seasoned broadcaster and journalist, shared a personal memory: 'I remember interviewing her years ago because I was the pop reporter on The Sun at the time of Duran Duran and all these people and she was the most grounded person.' He added: 'She was lovely to interview and honestly, I remember her saying she couldn't quite believe how lucky she'd been, you know, a girl from Wales and she never took it for granted, always grounded and really, really decent matter. Great loss.'
Cat Deeley Recalls Meeting Bonnie Tyler
Cat Deeley revealed that she had encountered Tyler backstage when the singer appeared on Lorraine earlier this year. 'She was a lovely, lovely lady,' Cat remarked. Ben Shephard extended condolences, stating: 'Our thoughts are with all her friends and family during this really distressing time.'
Final TV Appearance and Health Struggles
Tyler made her last television appearance on ITV's Lorraine in February 2026. During the interview, she discussed her upcoming tour, which she had to postpone due to illness. In May, it was reported that she had been placed in an induced coma after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal.
On Lorraine, host Lorraine Kelly praised Tyler's enthusiasm: 'What I love about you, as well, there's new music coming out, and that will be woven in, but you always, always do the big hits that everybody wants to hear.' Tyler replied: 'Yeah, and I love singing them. People say to me, 'Don't you get fed up?' No!' She continued: 'I often said, 'Next year I'm going to slow down,' but you know, I keep being able to do shows in great places and I love what I do. The [band] are great to be on the road with, we have a good time. On stage, as well, we have a lot of fun... I've had a wonderful journey.'
Reflections on 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'
Reflecting on her signature hit, Tyler shared: 'Well, the first time I had heard it, I had shivers up my spine, you know. I couldn't believe that [Jim Steinman] was giving me this song to sing. It was always my dream.' She added: 'I wanted desperately to work with him. At the time, my record company said to me, 'Oh Bonnie, he's never gonna do it,' and [I said], 'The least you could do is ask him, you know. You're asking me who I want to work with, and I'm telling you.' And they said, 'Don't hold your breath.' And anyway, he did and I have two albums with him.'
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am.
