Following what has likely been the most emotionally turbulent month of her life, presenter Kate Garraway has this morning returned to Good Morning Britain.
The 56-year-old mother-of-two was visibly fighting back her tears, having only issued a final goodbye to her beloved late husband Derek Draper at this funeral on Friday (2 Feb).
Former politician Derek, also 56, had suffered Covid-related health complications since first been diagnosed with coronavirus back in 2020.
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Since then, he had been hospitalised, induced into a coma, and suffered the likes of kidney failure and brain inflammation.
Back in December, The Sun reported that Derek - who, with Kate, shared daughter Darcey, 17, and son Billy, 14 - had suffered a 'massive heart attack', after which he remained in hospital until his death on 5 January 2024.
TV favourite Kate announced her 'darling' husband's passing via a heartbreaking Instagram tribute, telling her millions of followers she'd been 'holding his hand throughout the last long hours'.
And in the days that followed, a pre-recorded statement from Kate was read out by her GMB co-star Susanna Reid.
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During her statement, she thanked her followers for their 'wonderful message', adding they mean 'so much to me, Darcey, Billy, and all of Derek's family'.
And today, exactly a month after her beloved husband's passing, Kate returned to GMB to catch up with her co-stars.
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 today, 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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"It feels like five years and two minutes since Derek was in a positive place before the cardiac arrest which took him from us. It was the furthest from the spectre of death we could have been.
"It was a challenge to make sure he knew that he wasn't letting us down because he couldn't get through this last one."
Speaking of her kids' bravery during their father's final hours, she went on: "Darcey said 'If you can't do this it's okay, don't worry about us'. He's free from pain and deserves to be."
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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."
It was also revealed on today's early-morning show that Kate would be returning to the GMB panel alongside co-host Ben Shepherd on Thursday (8 February).
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: Covid-19, Kate Garraway, Health, Celebrity, ITV, TV And Film, Good Morning Britain
Rhianna Benson