Good Morning Britain hosts Kate Garraway and Ranvir Singh were visibly moved during a live interview on Friday, July 3, as they spoke to former Labour MP Ann Keen about her traumatic experience of forced adoption in the 1960s. An estimated 185,000 babies were taken from mothers in the three decades after World War Two, with thousands of unmarried women pressured into giving up their children.
Heartbreaking Revelation Before the Interview
Before introducing Ann Keen, Kate Garraway shared her personal connection to the issue, saying: "It's absolutely heartbreaking. This happened to a friend of mine actually, and it's devastating." Ranvir Singh then read a portion of the government's apology to affected mothers: "The shame was never yours, the shame is ours."
Ann Keen's Traumatic Account
Ann, who was 17 when she gave birth, recalled being treated as a "sinner" and denied pain relief during childbirth. She said: "How we were treated was like we were sinners. We had no rights or responsibility for anything." Ranvir noted that midwives told Ann the pain was her punishment, and she was deliberately torn during delivery without painkillers. Ann added: "I was asking for some pain control and they said, 'No, you're not having any pain control because you don't deserve any. You're a bad girl.' I was being stitched without any anesthetic. When I moved, the doctor slapped my leg to say, 'Don't move! You shouldn't be moving!'"
Emotional Impact on Hosts and Viewers
Both Kate and Ranvir were left speechless. After Ann described being kept from her son, who was "waiting for his new mummy," Kate said: "Oh my goodness." Ann also recounted a nurse grabbing her breast and saying: "You won't be needing this milk. Let's get rid of this now." Ranvir called it "like an assault." Kate reassured Ann that she didn't give up her child but was "forced to." Ann has since reunited with her son Mark, who told her she had done nothing wrong. GMB viewers expressed anger and upset on social media, with one writing: "What the hell am I hearing!! This is barbaric!! Dirty stain on the history of Britain this." Another said: "These poor women having their babies forcibly taken from them and being treated like scum."
Support for Affected Mothers
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am. For those affected by historical forced adoption practices, FamilyConnect offers confidential support, including counselling, record tracing and reunification assistance, at 0300 1800 205 or https://www.familyconnect.org.uk.
