Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell, the last surviving World War II Mosquito bomber pilot, appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain
09:39, 14 May 2026Updated 09:40, 14 May 2026
Colin Bell appeared on Good Morning Britain(Image: ITV screengrab)
A Second World War veteran who recently celebrated his 105th birthday revealed his secret during an appearance on Good Morning Britain.
Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell, the final surviving World War II Mosquito bomber pilot, featured on the ITV programme on Thursday (May 14), with viewers left “amazed” by his youthful appearance, reports the Mirror.
Presenters Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley questioned him about his secret, with Colin explaining that being “lucky” played a part as he honoured his late wife of 73 years. He also revealed to the hosts that he steers clear of negative people “like the plague”.
Colin was discussing a recent return to the skies and writing his bestselling book, Bloody Dangerous, when Richard remarked: “Colin, I, I just don’t know how you manage to be so trim and fit and so strong.” “You’ve got you’ve got a quick secret of 105, haven’t you, of how you managed to be so fabulous?” Kate asked.
Colin Bell turned 105 this year(Image: ITV screengrab)
“Well, I’m not fabulous,” the former pilot responded. “But I’m very lucky. And that plays a very large part in one’s life. I’ve been very lucky all the time. I was lucky to be married to the best woman in the world for 73 years.
“And unfortunately, I lost her eight years ago. But, you know, you just have to get on with life, don’t you?”
Richard pointed out that following each mission he flew, Colin’s odds of returning safely from the subsequent one diminished.
But the centenarian said: “No, I disagree with you. It’s like flipping a coin. You stand the same chance when you flip a coin as it is when you’re coming back from an operation. The chances of survival are exactly the same for every trip that you go out, except that you’re most vulnerable in your early stages when you haven’t got experience.
“Because without experience see, until you’ve actually been out and experienced being shot at… nobody can tell you what it’s like. But when you’ve experienced it and you know how, then you become less vulnerable.”
Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway hosted Good Morning Britain
Following Kate’s observation about his “positive” outlook, Colin responded: “Well, you would need to be positive. I like positive people, and I avoid negative people like the plague.
“Let’s put it this way. It was a job that had to be done. I think I lacked quite a lot of imagination, which was in my favour. I think I was pretty thick. But I got on with it because, as I said, it was a job that had to be done.”
Viewers watching from home were struck by Colin’s remarkable story and youthful appearance, with numerous viewers taking to X to share their thoughts.
“105!? Woah, Amazing…! What a man,” one remarked on the platform, formerly known as Twitter. “105, good for him,” added another.
One user wrote: “Colin Bell, where’s his knighthood!!! 105 still going strong and he’s amazing, totally on the ball still. Thank you for your service Sir.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX