Carol Vorderman felt a "tsunami of grief" as the anniversary of her mother's death drew closer.
Carol Vorderman
The 57-year-old star's mum Jean passed away in June last year aged 88 following a battle with cancer, and she has admitted she cried for an entire day as the sad anniversary approached.
Opening up on ITV's 'Lorraine' on Monday (18.06.18), she said: "It hit me like a wave. I couldn't stop crying. It was like tsunami of grief, and then it just stopped."
Despite the outpouring of emotion now, Carol - who cared for her mum everyday before her death - explained how she couldn't figure out why she "didn't cry" at the time of Jean's passing.
She added: "I just didn't cry. I didn't really think about her. It can't just be me who goes through it.
"I loved her. We could not have a closer bond. I adored the ground she walked on. So why is it that it just hasn't come? I don't understand it."
The former 'Countdown' star also admitted she felt "a freedom" in her life.
She explained: "I took her everywhere, looked after her and did everything for her. I [now] have a freedom I didn't have before - it was a joy to look after her.
"But I'm not lying, anyone with an elderly parent - that's hard, I was with her everyday."
A few weeks after Jean's death, Carol revealed her life was returning to something approaching normality.
She said at the time: "I am gradually re-engaging with life. She was an amazing lady and was always with me. She worked for me since I was 25. I miss her terribly.
"There was nothing left unsaid or undone as she'd say. 'It's not a tragedy, I'm nearly 89 and had a great life.' "
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