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Kate Garraway has received online hate from cruel trolls for 'laughing' while presenting Good Morning Britain.
The 56-year-old presenter is grieving the devastating loss of her husband, Derek Draper, who passed away early last month (3 January) from complications of coronavirus.
After taking a leave of absence, Kate returned to Good Morning Britain yesterday (8 February) alongside co-host, Ben Shephard, but some people seemed to take major issue with the fact she was laughing on the show.
Opening up about getting 'flack' for laughing, Kate told actor Larry Lamb and Marie Curie bereavement coordinator Claire Collins: "I got a bit of flack on social media yesterday for laughing with you [Ben], as if that implied I didn't care... I have to laugh!
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"But when you laugh you're laughing because you want the joy that person brought to continue."
She continued: "And you know that people watching at home have got troubles in their life and you want to share that joy with them.
"So it's a licence to laugh and to cry and to be all things."
The presenter then shared her personal experiences with grief ahead of the National Day of Reflection (23 March).
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She explained: "We were talking around this time last year, about the day of reflection and the importance of it and, obviously I'm in a very different place and very aware of the sensations of grief, although also very aware, that actually I'm only at the first stages and there's so many different stages of it all."
On Monday, the mother-of-two was visibly fighting back her tears, having only issued a final goodbye to her beloved late husband at his funeral last Friday (2 February).
Speaking to hosts Susanna and Richard Madeley via an at-home interview, she became visibly upset at the thought of life having 'to start' again.
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"I don't know how it's going to be," she bravely admitted. "Grief isn't containable in a day or year. People ask why I'm going back to work. Life has to start. We have to pick ourselves up and go on."
Kate went on to reveal that her son Billy had returned to school that day, adding that Derek would have wanted his family to 'pick ourselves up'.
"Derek's spirit and fight to keep going and the children have been extraordinary throughout," she opened up.
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And recalling the day Derek died, Kate continued: "I was with Derek when they said they didn't think he'd last a day. I told the children factually and said have you any questions. The first thing Darcey said was 'How are you mum?'
"I said 'Gosh that's a lovely question thank you for asking'."
She added: "I said 'Dad has gone'. Billy said 'I'm so sorry mum'. They've really taken on a caring role. I'm so proud of them for that."
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If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Topics: Celebrity, Good Morning Britain, Kate Garraway, TV And Film, ITV
Rhiannon Ingle