Idris Elba’s powerful rendition of Don’t Quit poem leaves fans emotional

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Idris Elba’s powerful rendition of Don’t Quit poem leaves fans emotional as he provides message of hope after overcoming coronavirus

  • Idris, 47, recited Edgar Albert Guest’s poem Don’t Quit for a BBC News clip
  •  The 90-second video is a montage of real life footage of the events of the past few weeks amid the pandemic
  • Last month, Idris and his wife Sabrina tested positive for COVID-19, but have since fully recovered from the virus 
  • Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID

By Rebecca Lawrence For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Idris Elba left fans in tears with his powerful rendition of Don’t Quit over Easter Weekend. 

The Luther actor, 47, recited Edgar Albert Guest’s poem from 1921 to narrate a short BBC News clip amid the global coronavirus pandemic. 

The 90-second video is a montage of real life footage of the events of the past few weeks, moving from empty supermarket shelves to viral moments like the Clap for our Carers, as well as personal videos from NHS staff. 

Hope: Idris Elba left fans in tears with his powerful rendition of Don’t Quit over Easter Weekend after he and his wife Sabrina recovered from COVID-19 (pictured in May 2019) 

The film concludes by reminding us all that despite the hardships we face right now, ‘we must not quit’ and delivers a message that ‘together, we’ll get through’.

After the clip was shared online, fans took to Twitter to praise the short video. 

Users penned: ‘@IdrisElba you voice on this makes my eyes well up @BBCNews press office. Play this on the tv please’; ‘Love and compassion – That’s a grand poem Mr. @idriselba’;

Powerful: The Luther actor, 47, recited Edgar Albert Guest's poem from 1921 to narrate a short BBC News clip amid the global coronavirus pandemic

Powerful: The Luther actor, 47, recited Edgar Albert Guest’s poem from 1921 to narrate a short BBC News clip amid the global coronavirus pandemic

One to watch: The 90-second video is a montage of real life footage of the events of the past few weeks, moving from empty supermarket shelves to viral moments like the Clap for Carers

Emotional: The film concludes by reminding us all that despite the hardships we face right now, 'we must not quit' and delivers a message that 'together, we'll get through'

 One to watch: The 90-second video is a montage of real life footage of the events of the past few weeks, moving from empty supermarket shelves to viral moments like the Clap for Carers

‘@idriselba your delivery of the words and the sincerity of your voice raises the level of this poem to a prayer. 

‘Many years ago I sent my Wife this poem, she was at her lowest ebb with chronic pain. It was inspiring then, even more so now #idriselba’; 

‘Love this poem. Love @idriselba. Love everything about this’; ‘Oof that @bbc poem voiced by @idriselba gets you in the feels.’; ‘ I liked the little Idris Elba/BBC poem though’. 

Welling up: After the clip was shared online, fans took to Twitter to praise the short video

Welling up: After the clip was shared online, fans took to Twitter to praise the short video

In the coming days, the BBC is set to release more montages, with poems read out by Line Of Duty stars Vicky McClure and Stephen Graham.

Last month, Idris and his wife Sabrina tested positive for COVID-19, but have since fully recovered from the virus.  

Idris appeared to confirm he had contracted the virus from Canadian Prime Minister’s wife Justin Trudeau Sophie, 44, after the two met shortly before they both tested positive for COVID-19.

On the mend: Last month, Idris and his wife Sabrina tested positive for COVID-19, but have since fully recovered from the virus

On the mend: Last month, Idris and his wife Sabrina tested positive for COVID-19, but have since fully recovered from the virus

The actor revealed he was exposed to the deadly disease on 4 March, the same day he posed with Sophie at the We Day UK charity event, in Wembley. 

Following Idris’ diagnosis, it was revealed his’ wife Sabrina had also tested positive after choosing to remain with her husband in self isolation when he was diagnosed.

Defending their decision to isolate together following The Wire star’s diagnosis, she told Oprah Winfrey ‘I wanted to be with him’ and claimed she felt ‘the instinct of a wife’ to take care of him. 

Don’t Quit by Edgar Albert Guest 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, 

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, 

When the funds are low and the debts are high, 

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, 

When care is pressing you down a bit, 

Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit. 

Life is queer with its twists and turns, 

As every one of us sometimes learns, 

And many a failure turns about, 

When he might have won had he stuck it out; 

Don’t give up though the pace seems slow

You may succeed with another blow. 

 Often the goal is nearer than, 

It seems to a faint and faltering man, 

Often the struggler has given up, 

When he might have captured the victor’s cup, 

And he learned too late when the night slipped down, 

How close he was to the golden crown. 

Success is failure turned inside out

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, 

And you never can tell how close you are, 

It may be near when it seems so far, 

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit

It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.