Last year, Ed Balls dedicated his Celebrity Best Home Cook victory to his mum Carolyn, who he hadn’t seen for months and is suffering from dementia.
The former politician, 55, beat Tom Read Wilson and Rachel Johnson to win the series.
And, as emotions ran high on screen, viewers at home were also in tears as they congratulated him on the victory.
But how is Carolyn doing now?
What did Ed Balls about his mum?
After being named the winner, an emotional Ed – who is on The Wheel tonight (November 5) – said: “Tom and Rachel are both great cooks but I was thinking of my mum and her teaching me to cook all those years ago.
“She might recognise me on the TV now – she has dementia – but she will probably be watching.
She might recognise me on the TV now – she has dementia – but she will probably be watching.
“And I would like to believe that she would be proud that the recipes that she taught her son are now not only popular in our family but actually winning a BBC show as well.
“That was a nice moment.”
How did viewers react?
Viewers took to Twitter to congratulate Ed on his emotional victory.
One said: “So loved the final of #CelebrityHomeCook, just loved it. I cried at the joy that Ed and Tom brought to that picnic, love of cooking and family.
“Well done to all the contestants. Fabulous work Ed.”
Another said: “Made up Ed Balls won 🙂
“Been my favourite since the beginning. Tom did exceptionally well! Must have been a close call.”
Well well. That was a turn-up. What a brilliant cook @TomReadWilson is. #Celebritybesthomecook was such a lovely lockdown show with fab fellow cooks. I'm dedicating the trophy to all the Mums & Dads who do their best & have a go in the kitchen. I hope my Mum will be proud pic.twitter.com/1XqEHfUWRl
— Ed Balls (@edballs) February 17, 2021
What else did Ed say after his victory?
After his victory, Good Morning Britain stand-in Ed also posted a personal message on his own Twitter feed.
“Well well. That was a turn-up.
“What a brilliant cook @TomReadWilson is.
Read more: Best Home Cook on BBC One: What happened to the previous winners? Is there a prize?
“#Celebritybesthomecook was such a lovely lockdown show with fab fellow cooks.
“I’m dedicating the trophy to all the mums & dads who do their best & have a go in the kitchen. I hope my mum will be proud.”
How is Ed Balls’ mum now?
Ed spoke about his mum Carolyn late last year, admitting he felt “guilt” over a decision to put her in a care home.
He fronted a documentary, Inside the Care Crisis with Ed Balls, which delved into on-going issues with adult social care.
Ed said: “I’ve been dealing with my mum’s dementia for 15 years.
“I was worried about allowing the cameras to come with me to visit Mum, as she might have had absolutely no idea who I was.
“When I go, I look for moments of recognition and a smile, but the reality is that in general that doesn’t happen,” he said.
“The nature of dementia as a disease is that there’s a progressive grieving for what is lost over the years,” he also told the Radio Times.
“It’s not something that you deal with on a particular day, it just happens over and over. Every time, I mourn for what’s lost.”
Ed did admit, though, that Carolyn is “happy and healthier” since moving into the home.
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