United Kingdom, April 11 -- David Tennant struggled to say "I love you" to his dying parents because the word was rarely used when he was growing up.

The former 'Doctor Who' star has admitted his mother Helen and father Alexander rarely stated their love for David and his siblings when they were young - and the 53-year-old actor believes it had a huge effect on the way he grew up and it meant he found it difficult to express his feelings when he lost his parents.

During an appearance on his 'David Tennant Does A Podcast With . ' show with his wife Georgia, the TV star explained: "Even when my parents were dying it was so hard to say I love you. It's quite sad ...

"My mum and dad were very loving. But it was never very expressed. And it...