Kate Garraway thanked viewers for their “incredible” support as she made her return to hosting Good Morning Britain on Thursday.
She came back to present the ITV breakfast show less than a week after the funeral of her husband Derek Draper. Garraway, 56, said it was “lovely” to be back but she felt a little “wobbly”.
She added: “The make-up girls had me in tears this morning just by saying hello.” Co-host Ben Shephard said he would give Garraway a bit of “leeway”, before saying she did her husband proud with the “extraordinary funeral”.
Garraway made a brief appearance on GMB on Monday before returning to the presenter's seat. She said: “Thank you to all of you at home as well. I know I mentioned it on Monday, but you have been incredible.”
“It was really lovely as well to feel so much love from everybody here.” Draper fell seriously ill during the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 and stayed in hospital for just over a year before being discharged to receive at-home care.
He died on January 3 this year at the age of 56, after suffering long-lasting symptoms. Garraway took several breaks from presenting to care for Draper after he fell ill, most recently in December after he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Draper, a former political lobbyist, married Garraway in September 2005. His north London funeral was attended by former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, musician Sir Elton John and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Commenting on the funeral later on in the show, entertainment reporter Richard Arnold said it was an “extraordinary send-off for such a wonderful man”, joking that whilst in attendance a whole tray of champagne was knocked over him.
“It was like a Greek wedding, wasn't it? Suddenly this clatter of the tray and the flutes of Champagne and everything…
“I was drenched and I had to wait a good half an hour before I left, and when I got back to look after my mum she went ‘Have you had a drink?',” he added, making Garraway and Shephard laugh.
Arnold also said there was a “gush of emotion” when welcoming Garraway back, adding: “It's lovely to have you home.” Shephard also read out messages sent in by viewers, with one saying it was “great to see Kate back with her sidekick Ben”.
He also posted a selfie of himself and Garraway back together on social media, writing: “Morning! Lovely to have Kate back with us – thank you for all the messages we've had already.
“You'll be pleased to know I'm already tidying up after her, so things are getting back to normal.”
— CutC by bbc.com
