A guest on This Morning broke down in tears as she shared the devastating story of how she lost her life savings to a cowboy builder who left her home in ruins. The emotional interview saw presenter Dermot O’Leary scrambling to comfort her, offering tissues and gentle reassurance as she struggled to continue.

Yvonne Elliott, 70, had spent more than a decade carefully saving for a modest extension to her living room at her home in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The pensioner had planned a 3m by 6m extension, something she had long dreamed of to improve her home. She explained that it had taken around ten years to put the money aside, adding that during the Covid pandemic she found it slightly easier to save.

Her ordeal began when a builder working in her neighbour’s garden approached her. He was not constructing an extension next door but simply levelling the garden and laying grass. After exchanging pleasantries, he asked Yvonne whether she needed any work done. She replied that she was still saving and not ready to proceed. However, just days later, he knocked on her door again, this time holding a contract. He told her that if she agreed, he could complete the work within three weeks.

According to Yvonne, the contract stated the total cost would be £17,500, but with a so-called pensioners’ discount, it would be reduced to £15,000. As he went through the details of the materials needed, he produced what she believed was an invoice showing £9,000 worth of materials that he claimed to have already purchased and stored in his garden. Trusting him, she handed over the money upfront.

It later emerged that the document she had been shown was not a receipt but merely a quotation. Over the course of two months, her life savings gradually disappeared. The builder began the foundations, but the work was shockingly inadequate. He dug down and laid only two rows of breeze blocks before making excuses and asking for more money. At one point, he requested an additional £880 to buy more breeze blocks, despite not having properly completed the earlier stages of the project. Looking back, Yvonne admitted it seemed unbelievable, but at the time she simply wanted the work done and trusted that he would finish it.

Eventually, the builder abandoned the project, leaving the back of her house in ruins. Although he has since been repaying £13,500 for the incomplete work, Yvonne said the experience “ruined” her life. The emotional and financial strain left her deeply distressed and reliant on the kindness of others.

Local builder Graham Nash stepped in after hearing about her situation. An advocate for exposing rogue traders, he offered to repair and complete the extension free of labour charges. He also used the opportunity to warn others about the dangers of paying builders upfront. He explained that many builders front-load their jobs, taking a large proportion of the payment at the start, which can leave insufficient funds to finish the work. In some cases, he said, builders simply take the money and disappear.

Graham advised Yvonne to report the matter to the police, Trading Standards, and Citizens Advice. However, West Yorkshire Police informed her that the dispute was considered a civil matter. Determined to help, Graham set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the materials needed to complete the extension and personally donated £1,500 himself.

During the live broadcast, Yvonne struggled to control her emotions as she praised Graham for his compassion and support, including regular phone calls to check on her wellbeing and encourage her not to give up. Her tears flowed again when Dermot and co-presenter Alison Hammond surprised her with £7,500 worth of materials donated by builders’ merchant Travis Perkins. Overwhelmed by gratitude, she sobbed as she attempted to thank everyone who had helped her. She said she had not expected such an outcome and hoped that by sharing her story, she could prevent at least one other person from going through the same ordeal.

The emotional episode followed another touching moment on the show involving eight-year-old Rowan Stapleton from Salford. The young boy has gained attention on social media for performing random acts of kindness using money he saved from birthdays and Christmas gifts. A video shown in the studio featured Rowan giving flowers, chocolates, and food to strangers, including elderly people and homeless individuals in his community.

Dermot was visibly moved, turning away from the camera with tears in his eyes as he admitted he was overwhelmed. Rowan explained that he had been inspired by a Christmas advertisement that made him feel sad and motivated him to help others. With the support of his mother, Toni, he began using his pocket money to buy small gifts for people in need. He also raised £100 with his football team to support charitable efforts.

During the broadcast, viewers responded generously, and Rowan’s GoFundMe page raised £4,000 while he was on air, far surpassing the family’s initial £700 target. His mother explained that the goal was simply to raise money for people who needed help and to spread kindness.

Together, the two stories created a powerful contrast on This Morning — one highlighting the pain caused by deception and the other celebrating the impact of generosity and compassion.