Kate Garraway returned to Good Morning Britain on Monday, just days after the funeral of her husband Derek Draper, who passed away in January following several years of serious health complications inflicted by coronavirus.
The presenter joined hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley via a video call from her home in north London, where she spoke about life after Derek's death, opening up about Derek's final days and her daughter Darcey's heartbreaking message to her dad during his final days.
After welcoming Kate back to the show, Susanna asked if she'd had a chance to read the book of condolences sent by the Good Morning Britain team. Holding up the book, which contains messages from the public, Kate said: "It's just amazing, it feels like my emotions are at 110%. The unbelievable love we all have as a GMB family, and ITV generally, we are very, very lucky.
"We have always been so connected in all our joys, our fun and challenges of life that poor Derek has faced head-on and our family has done as well. Having those messages makes me weep because I feel so grateful. I'm also aware that there are people that don't have that sense of love and I just want to share that with you."
When asked by Richard how she managed to stay strong under "phenomenal stresses and strains" over the past few years, Kate said: "I've got a massive debt to so many people, not least Derek because of his spirit and fight to keep going. Never once did he say, 'I don't want to try,'. Neither have the children, they've been extraordinary throughout and I think we have rituals like funerals because there is this extraordinary vacuum."
Kate went on to say that after they were given the prognosis that Derek wouldn't survive after going into cardiac arrest in December, the children had time on their own with their dad. "We knew Derek could still hear, and 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," she said.
Detailing a heartbreaking moment between Darcey and Derek, a teary Kate said: "Darcey said, 'Dad if you can't do this, we'll be ok. You release yourself if you need to go, don't worry about us'. I thought that was extraordinarily brave."
Opening up about Darcey's decision to carry her father's coffin at his funeral, Kate explained: "That was all her; I was really conscious that the funeral should be about Derek and not ill health. I wanted the funeral to represent everything about him, and she asked can I carry the coffin. It's a practical challenge but she said, 'I want to do it' and insisted on doing it. I thought that was a beautiful thing."
Kate's return comes just two days after Derek's funeral, which was held at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill, London on Friday.
The broadcaster was joined by several of her ITV colleagues for the intimate service, including Ben Shephard, Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid. Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, former prime minister Sir Tony Blair and his wife Cherie were also among the attendees.
Piers Morgan, Alex Beresford and Myleene Klass also attended the service. Kate and Derek's daughter Darcey, 17, was among the six pallbearers to carry her father's coffin. Princess Kate didn't attend due to her recent abdominal surgery, but still found the time to send Kate Garraway a 'beautiful letter' from hospital.
A source later told HELLO!: "Darcey held it together quite well. The atmosphere was subdued and sombre. There were no tears, everyone was just very quiet."
Derek was first diagnosed with coronavirus back in 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital before being discharged. He received round-the-clock care at home from specialist nurses and his wife.
Derek had been in and out of hospital since then for various reasons and in December 2023 was admitted after suffering a cardiac arrest.