Rio Ferdinand's BAFTA 2018 speech: Football legend holds back tears as he accepts award for heartbreaking Being Mum and Dad documentary

He made the documentary following the death of his wife Rebecca in 2015
Fiona Simpson14 May 2018

Rio Ferdinand was close to tears as accepted a BAFTA TV award for a heartbreaking documentary made after the death of his wife and revealed: "I did it for my three kids".

The former footballer won the Best Single Documentary prize for his programme Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad at the ceremony on Sunday.

Holding back tears, the 39-year-old said he made the documentary for his three children.

He told the audience: “It's been a crazy, whirlwind experience... I didn't do this for any other reason than my three kids. The worst thing to come out of this is I get quite emotional now.”

Ferdinand, who kissed new partner Kate Wright on the cheek before accepting the award, said the programme was "a snapshot of that time of sadness" in his life.

Rio Ferdinand with his TV BAFTA award
PA

He said: "I'm just pleased to say this documentary has played a part of pulling me forward into a period of happiness in my life, where my kids are very happy.

"I have a beautiful girlfriend now and we are making steps in the right direction."

Rio Ferdinand and girlfriend Kate Wright on the red carpet
PA

He added: "It has allowed me to speak and show vulnerability that people were probably never used to.

"Being a sportsman you are kind of built up as kind of an indestructible athlete and for people to see that vulnerability live and direct, I think was a huge part of that, making the documentary.

"All of the nans, granddads, the younger people, the middle aged people come up to me now in the streets and don't want to talk about football and that means we've done a good job with what we are doing."

BAFTA TV Awards 2018

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He said it had "truly been worthwhile" as it had given people a voice.

Ferdinand also confirmed that he planned to make more TV programmes of a personal nature.

"This has sparked something within myself. I didn't see myself as being a creative within film," he said.

"I've had conversations about doing more stuff. Being from a sporting arena, there are stories to be told."

Ferdinand's wife Rebecca died aged 34 in 2015, weeks after being diagnosed with the disease for a second time.

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