Comedian Frank Skinner was overcome with emotion during a poignant segment on the latest episode of Michael McIntyre's Big Show, which aired on Saturday night from the historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. The veteran entertainer participated in the programme's signature "Remember Me" game, where celebrities are unexpectedly reunited with figures from their past who emerge through a stage trapdoor.
A Surprise That Stopped Him in His Tracks
After initially being greeted by his optician Shayda and a primary school classmate named Jeff, Skinner was completely taken aback when the third guest appeared. Standing before him was Cathy, the midwife who had delivered his son during an emergency caesarean section thirteen years earlier. A visibly stunned Skinner managed to ask, "If you are who I think you are, are you Cathy?" before becoming visibly choked up.
An Overwhelming Moment of Gratitude
With clear emotion in his voice, Skinner explained to the audience, "This is Cathy, Cathy delivered my baby, and he's actually here tonight, he's 13 now." He recounted the dramatic circumstances of the birth, saying, "It was actually an emergency caesarean and Cathy put her scrubs on and was totally in control, and handed me this beautiful baby." The pair then shared a heartfelt embrace on stage, with Cathy telling Skinner, "I'm so pleased to see you."
Wiping tears from his face, the comedian paid tribute to the midwife, stating, "What an amazing woman she is, honestly. You handed me the most amazing gift I have ever had in my entire life, Cathy. Thank you so much." The genuine display of emotion resonated deeply with viewers at home, many of whom took to social media to express their reactions to the touching television moment.
Viewers React to the Heartwarming Segment
Audience members watching the broadcast were similarly moved by the authentic interaction. One viewer commented online, "Aww! Bless Frank Skinner getting emotional on #MichaelMcIntyresBigShow when meeting the woman who delivered his son. Great telly," while another noted, "Aww. Lovely, genuine emotion from Frank." A third social media user expressed surprise, writing, "Well I didn’t have blubbing at Frank Skinner on my bingo card EVER," highlighting how unexpected the emotional display was from the typically composed comedian.
Further reactions included one viewer admitting, "Not me crying cos Frank Skinner is crying cos Cathy is there who delivered his son 13 yrs ago," and another declaring, "Frank Skinner. Brilliant comedian and now an unexpected National Treasure. Wonderful stuff." The widespread response demonstrated how the unscripted moment had connected with the British public.
Another Memorable Reunion from the Series
This emotional segment follows another notable reunion from earlier in the month, when fellow comedian Romesh Ranganathan was confronted with a blast from his own past on the same programme. The 47-year-old presenter was reunited with his childhood sweetheart Sonya during the "Remember Me?" segment, resulting in an amusingly awkward encounter that contrasted sharply with Skinner's tearful reunion.
Ranganathan appeared genuinely embarrassed when he realised who the mystery guest was, telling host Michael McIntyre, "This is so bad." After some prompting, he recalled her name as Sonya, and the show revealed clues about their school days together, including the word "SNOG" displayed on screen and a photograph of the pair cuddled up during their teenage years.
Sonya explained their history, saying, "We were in maths class together, and we were at the fifth year leavers party together - there was probably some flirting, mild flirting. There was no heavy petting... He went for the kiss." Ranganathan added through laughter, "I suggested to Sonya that we go for a walk, and then when we, and there's no other way to phrase this, but when we were in the woods I made my move. Then what followed was, in theory, we were going out... for a week."
When the comedian asked Sonya if she ever thought about him, she delivered a brutally honest response: "No." This lighter, more humorous reunion showcased the varied emotional range that the "Remember Me" segment can evoke, from heartfelt gratitude to amusing embarrassment.
The Enduring Appeal of Michael McIntyre's Big Show
These contrasting reunions highlight why Michael McIntyre's Big Show continues to captivate Saturday night audiences on BBC One and iPlayer. The programme's format, which brings celebrities face-to-face with unexpected figures from their personal histories, consistently delivers both touching and entertaining television moments that resonate with viewers across the country.
The combination of Skinner's genuinely emotional response to meeting the midwife who delivered his son and Ranganathan's comically awkward encounter with a school crush demonstrates the programme's ability to elicit authentic reactions from its guests. These unscripted moments provide a rare glimpse behind the public personas of well-known figures, creating compelling television that balances humour with heartfelt human connection.
