A GOOD Morning Britain presenter has opened up on a "challenging year" as he bid farewell to the ITV show.
The broadcaster, 54, wrapped their segment on the breakfast series and thanked colleagues for their support.
Richard Arnold fronts Good Morning Britain's Entertainment reports and recently returned from Australia, covering I'm A Celebrity.
During a busy Friday episode, fronted by Ben Shephard, 49, and Ranvir Singh, 46, the showbiz anchor bid viewers a Merry Christmas.
After revealing it was his last work shift of 2023 before the festive break he said: "I would like to thank the staff at St Mary's Hospital who have looked after my mum on and off.
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"The care teams out there, all of you out there who do that job - and unsung.
"And to all my friends and family who have wrapped me up in cotton wool this year as well, in what has been quite a challenging year.
"And to all my friends and colleagues and the entertainment team who put this stellar slot together.
"We managed to get to the end of the year gang!
"Merry Christmas to you all, have a good one."
Although Richard made reference to his troubling times, he did not specify what these were.
Just weeks ago, Richard had had asked his GMB co-host Ed Balls, 56, to send a message to his mum Dot live on camera - making it clear he wasn't going on a jolly.
But of course the former Labour MP did nothing of the kind, instead suggesting Richard would be "on the beach" with ad hoc appearances on the telly.
Previously, Richard was in tears on the ITV show as he opened up on his childhood struggle.
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The entertainment reporter described his night as ABBA Voyage as the 'best night of his life' after it healed his childhood wounds.
Richard said: "It was the best night of my life."
"To say to my eight-year-old self who was very much lost against the rhetoric of the time growing up, so did a deep dive into Abba, because he had no idea who, or what he would be, or what his life would look like now.
"To find himself not only seeing ABBA, reform for the want of a better word, to be sat in the same row as ABBA, it was absolutely extraordinary. It was amazing."
