Tearful Ranvir Singh challenges Richard Madeley's privilege over Marcus Rashford letter

Watch: Ranvir Singh's emotional statement on racism and privilege

Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh has said acknowledging racism in society should no longer be a choice, as she wept for her son's future.

The 43-year-old newsreader – a single mother to Tushaan, eight – fought back tears live on the ITV breakfast show as she joined a discussion about the racist abuse targeted at members of the England football team.

Richard Madeley told her: "Now look here, Ranvir, you've got to read the news, so dry your eyes."

But she continued: "The thing is, it goes to the heart of what we want for our children. My son goes to school – he's talked about racism he's faced. He's going to be nine. We think about it all the time.

"You're privileged if you don't have to think about it and the only time you think about it is when one of your heroes is suffering.

"That's the definition of privilege – Andi [Peters, presenter] walks around with it all the time, whether he's talking about quizzes or whatever.

"You can't shake it off if you're in that position. You can act like you're functioning normally but all the time it's there.

Read more: Richard Madeley calls for racist trolls to be 'locked away' following England defeat

"Privilege is having the choice. And now I think we have to remove the privilege – we all have to think about it regardless of what skin we walk in."

Susanna Reid and Singh became emotional after Reid read a letter of support England footballer Marcus Rashford had shared from a nine-year-old fan called Dexter.

Singh – who competed in Strictly Come Dancing last year – choked back tears saying: "That's England. Dexter's England."

But Andi Peters told his fellow presenters: "I do not believe I'll see equality in my lifetime."

As they discussed the public reaction to the racism directed at Rashford and fellow players Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, Madeley said: "We may be at a watershed moment – a moment of opportunity."

Peters, 50, replied: "I think it's wishful thinking on your part. This tanker of racism is so big it's so hard to steer.

"I genuinely believe this, for all of us at ITV – the viewers, my colleagues – genuinely want change.

"I know you, I can talk to you two. I can look down the lens and talk to people at home and say come on, there should be change. But I can't talk to everybody.

"All I can do is the people I surround myself with is I can try and help educate all of you, make you slightly more sympathetic to the life I've lived.

Read more: Andi Peters reveals he is racially profiled and followed in shops

"So that you can transfer that on to your kids and gradually – I don't think I'll see equality in my lifetime."

Watch: Ranvir Singh explains how she fell victim to an online scam