Friday's episode of ITV's This Morning saw host Alison Hammond let out a piercing scream as her co-presenter Dermot O'Leary was unexpectedly hoisted into the air by their guest, the World's Strongest Woman, Rebecca Roberts.
An Unforgettable Studio Demonstration
The dynamic presenting duo were mid-conversation with Rebecca, who had come on the show to discuss her extraordinary journey in strength athletics. What began as an interview quickly turned into an astonishing display of power that left both the studio and viewers at home in awe.
After sharing her inspirational story, Alison Hammond jokingly asked the weightlifter, 'Do you reckon you could lift a Dermot?' The question prompted laughter from the pair, but Rebecca took it in her stride, promptly picking up a surprised Dermot O'Leary as a mere 'warm up'.
Dermot was instructed to cross his arms and keep his body 'still and rigid' during the lift. As soon as he was safely back on the ground, Rebecca reached for a frying pan and, to everyone's amazement, began to effortlessly fold it multiple times.
'Oh my God she's rolling it like paper!' Alison shrieked, capturing the shock felt throughout the studio.
From Takeaways to Titles: Rebecca's Journey
Rebecca's path to becoming one of the world's most formidable athletes is a story of remarkable transformation. She first learned about the strongwoman challenge back in 2016, at a time when she was living off takeaways and weighed over 30 stone.
Her journey began at university where she played rugby, but a subsequent back injury led to a difficult period. 'It made me depressed and I binged myself to 30 stone,' she recalled to the hosts. Her life changed when she met her husband, Paul, who saw her potential and encouraged her to enter the competition.
'The belief that he had in me made me feel like I was invincible and that I could do anything,' she said. Tragically, Paul passed away after suffering a heart attack in 2022.
His belief continues to drive her. 'It's why I want to get these five World's Strongest Woman titles now,' she explained. 'He believed when we first met that I would win World's Strongest Woman within five years. I won my first title in 2021, my second in 2023, almost exactly a year after he passed away, and my third title last year.' She has now won an incredible eight international titles and is on track to become the strongest woman who ever lived.
Viewers React to the Incredible Segment
The segment captivated the audience at home, who quickly took to social media platforms like X and YouTube to share their amazement.
One viewer commented, 'She looks so much stronger than last year. Congrats.' Another wrote touchingly, 'So proud of her, she is doing it for her husband who passed away! He will be so proud of her. You go girl.'
A third viewer offered a more humorous observation, noting, 'Why was Dermot out of breath when the strongest woman in the world lifted him he was proper panting when she put him down.'
Rebecca listed one of her toughest challenges as lifting a car on her back, putting her feat of lifting Dermot O'Leary into perspective. Her appearance on This Morning, which airs at 10am on ITV and ITVX, was a powerful testament to physical strength and human resilience.
