Gok Wan shaves hair to raise money after 12-year-old relative diagnosed with cancer

Watch: Gok Wan shaves hair off live on air to raise money after relative diagnosed with cancer

This Morning’s Gok Wan fought back tears as he announced he was shaving his head for charity after his cousin’s daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.

The TV star was emotional as he told hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby that 12-year-old Alyssa was going through chemotherapy after being diagnosed six weeks ago.

Wan said he offered to shave off his signature quiff to help raise funds for the charity Young Lives Vs Cancer and that he also wanted to do it because “Alyssa wants to make it very, very clear that actually short hair can be cool”.

Read more: Eamonn Holmes fears ending up in wheelchair if he loses battle against chronic pain

As he prepared for the chop, the star read out a letter from Alyssa in which she referred to him as “Uncle Babe”.

“I will cry… she calls me Babe!” he said.

The letter continued: “The doctors have changed my chemo treatment which is making me feel a little sick, but I’m being brave.

"Thank you so much for cutting your hair to raise money for Young Lives Vs Cancer, I hope you raise loads.

"Can you please cut your hair like mine to show all the young people going through treatment that short hair is cool?”

Wan, 46, admitted to battling the nerves before he braved the shave later in the ITV show, but said it was “so worth it”.

As the cut started, locks of his dark hair started falling to the ground.

“Oh my God, look at it!” he exclaimed

Once it was completed, Willoughby told the star he looked “younger” with his hair chopped off.

Wan thanked Willoughby and Schofield for their support and revealed £45,000 had been raised so far.

Read more: Phillip Schofield reveals he saved his dad's life by performing CPR

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV and ITV Hub.