Michael Ball has urged viewers to get the COVID-19 vaccine as he paid tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore on Tuesday.
The singer, 58, who performed alongside the army veteran on a charity cover of You’ll Never Walk Alone, said Brits should ‘do their duty’ by getting vaccinated after revealing he ‘was content and didn’t suffer’ in the hours leading to his death.
It comes as a slew of stars paid tribute to Captain Tom after his death from coronavirus was announced earlier in the day at the age of 100.
Moving: Michael Ball, 58, has urged viewers to get the COVID-19 vaccine as he paid tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore on Tuesday
Speaking on The One Show, Michael reflected on meeting Tom and his family last year after they performed together on a single to raise money for NHS charities, saying getting knighted by the Queen was ‘the proudest moment of his life.’
He told Alex Jones: ‘The most important thing I think I found out about Tom was his sense of duty.
‘He wanted to have the vaccine. Because he was ill before, he was unable to have the vaccine. But I know he wanted people to do that, and he felt it was their duty to do this – to have the vaccine.’
Sad news: It comes as a slew of stars paid tribute to Captain Tom after his death from coronavirus was announced earlier in the day at the age of 100
Michael then urged viewers to go and get the Covid vaccine when it’s offered to them, saying: ‘If you’re thinking about it, don’t. Just have the vaccine. It’s kind of your duty. That’s what Captain Tom felt, that’s what I feel. That’s what most of us feel is the right thing to do.’
The West End star added that he spoke to Tom’s family following his death, saying: ‘Obviously, they’re so sad and coming to terms with it. She described the last few days with him in the hospital, he was so proud and so content. He didn’t suffer.’
Earlier in the evening Michael also tweeted: ‘Rest in peace @captaintommoore.
‘A wonderful life so well lived and a hero and fighter to the very end. So very very sad. Love and prayers for @Hannah_I_M and all the family.’
Emotional: Michael paid tribute to Captain Tom earlier in the evening in a moving tweet
Tributes to Captain Tom have poured in ever since his death was announced by his family after being admitted to hospital with coronavirus on Sunday.
A ray of light shining through the tragedies of the pandemic, he raised more than £32 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his milestone birthday last April.
His unrelenting optimism and belief that ‘tomorrow will be a good day’ endeared him to fans around the world and news of his death prompted a flood of tributes.
His daughters Hannah Ingram-Moore and Lucy Teixeira hailed the last year of his life as ‘nothing short of remarkable’, and said: ‘He was rejuvenated and experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of.’
National treasure: Tributes to Captain Tom have poured in ever since his death was announced by his family after being admitted to hospital with coronavirus on Sunday
Captain Tom’s daughters had announced the sad news that their father had passed away just after 4pm.
They said: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father, Captain Sir Tom Moore.
‘We are so grateful that we were with him during the last hours of his life; Hannah, Benjie and Georgia by his bedside and Lucy on FaceTime. We spent hours chatting to him, reminiscing about our childhood and our wonderful mother. We shared laughter and tears together.
‘The last year of our father’s life was nothing short of remarkable. He was rejuvenated and experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of.
Captain Sir Tom Moore (pictured in April) became a national treasure during the first coronavirus lockdown after he raised more than £32 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday
‘Whilst he’d been in so many hearts for just a short time, he was an incredible father and grandfather, and he will stay alive in our hearts forever.
‘The care our father received from the NHS and carers over the last few weeks and years of his life has been extraordinary. They have been unfalteringly professional, kind and compassionate and have given us many more years with him than we ever would have imagined.
‘Over the past few days our father spoke a great deal about the last 12 months and how proud he felt at being able to leave behind the growing legacy of his Foundation.
‘We politely ask for privacy at this time so we can grieve quietly as a family and remember the wonderful 100 years our father had. Thank you.’