Engelbert Humperdinck says wife's death has 'affected me pretty bad'

Engelbert Humperdinck has said he's been hit hard by losing his wife Patricia Healey, who died this year after contracting COVID.

The singer’s wife of 56 years had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for more than a decade and passed away in February after getting the coronavirus.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Engelbert said the loss had affected him “pretty bad”.

Read more: Engelbert Humperdinck asks for prayers after testing positive for COVID

“The whole family has been in limbo lately because we finally brought her home,” he said. "Since February we‘ve been waiting, waiting for the quarantine to go away so we can give her a good final send off in our home in Leicester. She’s finally home now and so we’re grateful for that.”

The singer, 85, told hosts Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley: “I don’t know how it’s going to affect me, I don’t know yet. It’s affected me pretty bad so far and I know I’m going to go out on tour and sing sensitive songs and things like that, but that’s my job and I know that’s what my wife would want me to do.

“So I keep on and I’ve been out in her garden which she used to love. She created the whole thing… I’ve been out there doing bits and pieces and hopefully making her happy as she looks at me doing it.”

The star said it was difficult being on stage and singing sensitive lyrics.

“Each lyric can touch your heart in different ways,” he explained. “But it doesn’t matter, it’s my job. I’m a thespian of song and I’ve got to go out there and do the best that I can.”

“My fans have been absolutely fantastic. They’ve all been so supportive during this time in my life and I love them all,” he added.

In January, the star asked fan for prayers after tweeting that “COVID has caught up with us and found a way into our home”.

Days later he posted a message on social media saying that Patricia had “slipped softly away, as if by God’s clockwork” at the age of 85.

“Her earthly limitations no longer hold her down as she is freely running the glorious gardens of Heaven, reunited with so many loved ones,” he wrote on Instagram.

Read more: Engelbert Humperdinck says he wishes his late wife could see him made an MBE

“We prayed as a family, blessed her with the water from Lourdes and off she went... ushered into the arms of Jesus with help from the generous heart filled prayers from all around the world.”

Good Morning Britain is on weekdays from 6am on ITV and ITV Hub.

Watch: Engelbert Humperdinck's wife Patricia has died