Kate Garraway's GMB co-host 'in awe' of her amid husband's ordeal: 'Keep battling'
KATE GARRAWAY, Good Morning Britain host alongside Ben Shephard, returned to the panel earlier this month and left her colleagues "in awe" of her strength during her husband Derek's "terrifying" health ordeal.
Kate Garraway provides health update on husband Derek Draper
Kate Garraway, 53, is back at the Good Morning Britain desk after taking a three-month leave of absence due to her husband Derek Draper's "terrifying" health battle, but her strength throughout it all has left her GMB co-stars and fans at home "in awe" of her bravery. Weather presenter Alex Beresford, 39, felt especially "uplifted" to have her back with the team again.
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I have been in awe of how she’s handled herself in public
In his latest column, the meteorologist hailed the mum-of-two: "It has been so uplifting for myself and the GMB family to see Kate Garraway back at the desk, and I hope it’s given her the lift she needs to keep herself, her husband Derek and the kids going," he wrote.
"When it comes to our sanity, I always say nothing works unless you do. It’s so important we look after ourselves so we can look after everyone else."
He explained he "can’t begin to imagine" what the worrying situation has been like for her after Derek was rushed to hospital back in March earlier this year.
"I have been in awe of how she’s handled herself in public – and like the true professional she is, Kate’s strength has shone," he said.
It was when she took part in the 45-mile Prince’s Trust Palace To Palace charity bike ride without proper training beforehand when Alex first saw how mentally "strong" Kate was.
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He remembered: "There were points when her body was giving up but then her mind would take over and she crossed the line at Windsor Castle with Ben Shephard and me at her side.
"That day I got a glimpse into how strong Kate truly is and, although what’s happened to Derek is incomparable, I saw her fight and know she has what it takes to keep battling for her husband, the kids and herself," he added.
Fellow presenter Lorraine Kelly, who joined the GMB team throughout the coronavirus pandemic after her own self-titled show was taken off-air, admitted Kate “pops into her head an awful lot” as Derek remains in hospital.
Crediting the mum-of-two for her resilience throughout the four-month health battle, Lorraine told Good Housekeeping: “My friend and colleague Kate Garraway has been so strong.
“She pops into my head an awful lot. Her situation is so hard on her and her kids."
During her absence, Kate appeared on the show multiple times to update her colleagues and viewers on Derek's condition.
He is now free of COVID-19, but the virus has caused significant damage to his body and she has been informed by doctors that his recovery will be slow.
Before her ITV debut, she previously revealed doctors encouraged her to resume some sort of normal routine, as she had put her "life on pause".
"The doctors have been urging me not to put my life on pause. They've told me that I need to go back to work and create a routine in our lives again," she said.
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"The children and Derek are all I've thought about and they're the most important people in my life, but I must create structure and normality for the children, to clean the bath, put the plates in the dishwasher and tidy the house."
She confessed she also needed to "get back to work" so that she can "provide for the children" and "do things together" so as to: "Make them feel that the light hasn't gone out of their lives, that there's hope for the future," Kate told Hello! Magazine.
More recently, the ITV star hit headlines after getting into a near-crash on the motorway following a tyre blow-out.
It had been the fist time she has driven her two children Darcey and William, since Derek was hospitalised and described the ordeal as "terrifying".
Kate said on Instagram at the time: "Thanks to our amazing saviours Liz & Mark from @kentpoliceuk who rescued me after a full tyre blow out on the motorway!!!
"Never had one before - utterly terrifying. Managed to keep control of car but couldn’t get off motorway as no hard shoulder & when the AA said they couldn’t come for an hour, then rang after half an hour to say might still be an hour had no choice but to call the police.
She praised the officers who helped her: "They were so brilliant and got us to safety and we are now on way home in taxi , shaken but safe, tow truck on way to car. It’s first time have taken kids out without Derek too, but we are safe and will update you fully on @gmb with @benshephardofficial tomorrow from 6 am."
Good Morning Britain continues weekdays at 6am on ITV.
