Secret Life’s Samuel tells classmates his late dad is his hero

‘Daddy is my hero’: Secret Life of 5 Year Olds viewers are left in tears as Samuel reveals his father is ‘in heaven’ – and says he wants to find a well so he can ‘wish him back to life’

  • There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Samuel dubbed his late dad his ‘hero’
  • He passed away from terminal cancer on 1st January 2017, when Samuel was four
  • The brave youngster pointed up and told classmates that his dad was ‘in the sky’ 

A five-year-old boy reduced Twitter to tears after sharing memories of his late father when he was asked to discuss his hero. 

In tonight’s heartbreaking episode of the Channel 4’s Secret Life of 5 Year Olds, the children were asked to prepare a special presentation on their idol to present to the class.

Samuel, who took to the stage clutching several meaningful family photos, his hero was his late father, who he revealed was ‘in heaven’.

‘Daddy is my hero,’ he told his peers. ‘When he died he wasn’t at home he was in a hospital. I didn’t get to see him when he died except for when he was in a box that wasn’t see-through. 

‘One time I’m going to a wishing well to wish he was still alive.’ 

The heartbreaking moment proved too much for many Twitter users, who said they had been reduced to floods of tears. 

Samuel was just four years old when his dad passed away from terminal cancer. In emotional scenes as he spoke to his classmates on stage, he revealed: ‘Daddy is my hero’ 

The brave five-year-old told his classmates that his dad was ‘in heaven’, before he pointed up towards the sky

Clutching the family photos tight, he discussed some of the special memories he shared with his dad before he sadly passed away – including when he let him eat chocolate without his mother knowing

In the heartbreaking episode Samuel, who lives with his mother Beth and sister Elizabeth, 13, shared memories of the precious times he spent with his beloved father. 

The five-year-old revealed: ‘Sometimes when Mummy says I can’t have chocolate, Daddy gives them to me, and sometimes when my feet get tired, Daddy puts me on his shoulders.’

Samuel was just four years old when his dad passed away from terminal cancer on 1st January 2017. 


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‘It was a pretty difficult time for Samuel but he dealt with it amazingly and helped everyone else get through it by just being him,’ said his mum Beth, a police helpline agent. 

She added: ‘Samuel is at his most content and happiest when he’s just creating and coming up with the weirdest inventions.’

‘He chooses his outfits himself, but everything is always colour-coordinated and looks like it’s supposed to go together. He’s a genuine pleasure to be around.’

And when the brave youngster told his classmates that he wanted to find a well to make a wish that his dad was still around, Daya shared some caring words. 

‘There’s a wishing well in the garden but it needs water in to make a wish,’ he comforted.

Twitter users were left in floods of tears at the emotional scene in tonight’s episode 

Others praised the little boy for his resilience and said his father would be so proud of him

This week, the classmates were asked to spare a special presentation on who their hero is. Pictured from left to right, Samuel, Heidi, Connor, Maxwell, Daya, Merryn, Maisie, Reilly, Vinnie and Tilly-Marie

Grasping family photos of him and his dad as he spoke aloud on stage, Samuel explained to his friends listening that his dad isn’t ‘at his house, or anywhere.’ 

‘There’s only one place he is – and that’s in the sky,’ said Samuel, whose mother described him as being like a little old man but in a kid’s body. ‘He’s not on an aeroplane. He’s not on holiday. And he’s not here.’  

Daisy wrote: ‘OK saying his Dad was his hero was already sweeter than anything but now I’m crying, God bless.’

Samuel’s mother Beth (pictured above), a police helpline agent spoke about the devastating loss: ‘It was a pretty difficult time for Samuel but he dealt with it amazingly and helped everyone else get through it by just being him’

Kerry-anne added: ‘Watching secret life of a five year old & crying my eyes out at Samuel talking about his daddy being in heaven.’

Soph tweeted: ‘My heart breaks for little Samuel, must be so so difficult to understand losing a parent so young, bless his soul.’

Other praised the little boy as being ‘incredible’ for coping with the loss of his father at such a young age.

Lydia Compton said: ‘What an incredible little boy Samuel is. I’ve never heard someone so young talk so confidently about the death of a parent.

‘Such a credit to his mom, amazing!’

Sara added: ‘Aww Samuel. What a lovely boy. His daddy would be so proud of him.’

When talking about the last time he saw his dad, Samuel said: ‘I didn’t get to see him when he died except for when he was in a box that wasn’t see-through. One time I’m going to a wishing well and wish he was still alive’

Leanne wrote: ‘Oh Samuel bless you! Children’s resilience absolutely amazes me.’ 

Meanwhile, the other classmates had a variety of different answers to the posed question.

Taking to the stage, Daya revealed that footballer Ronaldo was his hero – and followed it up with good reason, too. 

When Daya took to the stage, he answered the question rather differently – and instead declared footballer Ronaldo as his hero. ‘I had a dream about him that he was my dad and he actually is my dad,’ he explained

Meryyn told her classmates that her hero was Jeremy Corbyn and when asked why, she replied: ‘He’s my best friend and he said Happy Birthday on this card,’ before holding it up to show the class

‘I had a dream about him that he was my dad and he actually is my dad,’ he explained. ‘He has a six pack.’

Meanwhile, Tilly-Marie revealed her hero was little Mix’s Perrie, while Meryyn opted for the more unusual choice for a five-year-old – Jeremy Corbyn.

‘He’s my best friend and he said Happy Birthday on this card,’ she said, holding up the evidence. ‘He gives everything back to people and he shouts at Theresa May.’

Explaining the wide array of answers the classmates gave over their heroes, child psychologist Laverne Antrobus said: ‘As humans our brains are wired to imitate others from a young age.’

She added: ‘Strong role models can have a profound effect in our approach to success. Children’s heroes can inspire them to face challenges and overcome failures.’ 

The Secret Life of Five-Year Olds, Tuesday 8pm on Channel 4. Catch up on All4

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