Viewers questioned whether hallucinogenics had been slipped into their breakfast as they met a real-life mermaid on This Morning.

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby made one little girl’s dreams come true on the show as they called on professional mermaid Linden Wolbert to surprise ill schoolgirl Lauren Cosgrove.

Lauren, who was born 27 weeks early and has battled three life-threatening conditions in her short life, first met mermaid Linden on the shores of Loch Lomond in 2013 thanks to the Rays of Sunshine charity

And on Wednesday’s show, Lauren, now kept alive by artificial nutrition, appeared with her mum Laura to talk about the visit, when she was surprised with a reunion with Linden.

The mermaid called in via satellite link from California, who was misted with water by one of the This Morning team named Patrick for the segment and happily flipped her tail.

This Morning
Lauren and mum Laura on This Morning (S Meddle/ITV/REX)

Linden admitted that Loch Lomond had been “chilly for a Californian mermaid” but it was “magical” meeting Lauren, now 10.

She explained that the job of a mermaid is to speak on behalf of the ocean’s creatures.

“It’s fun to swim like a mermaid and protect our oceans.

“I believe the job of a mermaid is to be a herald for the ocean. Mermaids love making children happy and making children smile.”

Lauren seemed happy but viewers at home were rather perplexed by the #LivingMermaid.

Some people were put off by Holly and Phil trying to convince Lauren that Linden was real.

But others thought it was a beautiful reunion.

Then one person had to ruin it all with their weird fantasies.