Brave Kate Garraway will appear on TV screens again tomorrow, just three days after husband Derek Draper’s funeral.
The Good Morning Britain star, 56, will be interviewed live on the show from his home and will rejoin co-host Ben Shepherd from Thursday.
Heartbroken Kate told friends she wanted to keep busy and focus on work as she continued to mourn Derek.
ITV will follow her return tonight.
Mother-of-two Kate told bosses at Smooth FM that she was keen to host the popular morning radio show there as well.
A source said: “Kate has had an incredibly difficult few months over the past few months, which have taken a toll both mentally and physically.
Read more about Kate Garraway
“But she is a hard worker and live TV journalism is in her blood and it is what she knows and loves.
“Kate wants to keep busy and get back to work.
“This is the perfect time for her to reunite with her GMB family.
“Everyone at GMB has been extremely supportive and desperate to welcome her into the family and support her.
“They are excited to have her back after being away for so long.
“After taking care of Derek and his family for almost four years, Kate needs to get back to some kind of normalcy. And she wants to go back to work, which starts at 3:45 a.m.”
“It goes without saying that being effectively a full-time carer for Derek has had a huge impact on her financial situation.
“Simply put, she needs to work to support her children and restore stability to their lives.
“It’s not a decision she makes lightly, but she’s absolutely thrilled to be back in the studio.
“She knows she has to be determined and put in the work, and now seems like a better time than ever.”
Kate was last seen on GMB on December 8th.
She is tentatively set to return full-time, but ITV has offered her full support and says she can take time off at any time.
It is also understood that the boss provides a full duty of care package, including counseling if required.
The source added, “Kate’s health is everyone’s biggest concern.”
Derek had flown to Mexico the week of December 8th to be treated by experts for his lingering coronavirus infection.
While there, he suffers a severe cardiac arrest, forcing Kate to tell ITV executives that she needs indefinite leave.
She flew to Mexico to be at his bedside and informed only close family and friends of his condition.
Tomorrow, Duchess Kate will speak live for the first time about her husband’s brave final fight and discuss his funeral, which was attended by politicians and the couple’s celebrity friends.
The Duchess fought back tears at St Mary the Virgin’s Church in Primrose Hill, north London, where the couple wed in 2005.
During the two-hour Catholic ceremony, the priest who married them both gave readings.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Derek’s former boss and political advisor, gave a speech.
Sir Elton John sang Skyline Pigeon with lyrics such as “Release me from your hands/Let me fly to a faraway land.”
Kate’s past and present GMB co-stars Charlotte Hawkins and Susanna Reid were in attendance to support their popular colleague, including Ben, Richard Madeley and Piers Morgan (who now appears on Talk TV).
The couple’s children, Darcy, 17, and Billy, 14, laid flowers and said, “We love you, Dad,” and Darcy was one of the pallbearers.
Last summer, courageous Kate was awarded an MBE for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity work.
The presenter, who always vowed to “never give up” on Derek, has made two award-winning documentaries about the psychotherapist’s battle with coronavirus.
She was widely praised by carers’ organizations and charities for raising awareness of the plight of people caring for family members with debilitating conditions.
Kate, who survived on four hours of sleep while caring for Derek, struggled with her own secret health battle last year when she rushed into A&E at 4.30am.
She collapsed and doctors warned she may have stress-related angina. Kate has also been fighting to support her family in recent years.
According to reports, she may be forced to sell her home, which was built to accommodate Derek’s recovery.
And last year she was hit with a £716,000 tax bill.
The couple had to close Derek’s psychotherapy company because Derek was no longer able to work.
In addition, Kate is said to have spared Derek’s medical bills, racking up his medical bills by nearly £1 million.
She was devastated when he died on January 3rd.
Kate writes: “Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side and holding his hand during his last long hours and even as he passed away.
“There is so much I want to say and I will say it in due course, but for now I would like to thank everyone who fought so hard to save him and make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible. I would like to thank the medical team.
“We send so much love and gratitude to everyone for your generous support to our family.
“Rest in peace now, Derek, I am so lucky to have you in my life.”
Derek first became infected with the coronavirus in the UK in March 2020 and became seriously ill, and was admitted to intensive care and put on a ventilator.
He spent 13 months in hospital, becoming Britain’s longest-suffering hospital patient.
He always does his best
Four years ago, Kate Garraway had it all: a happy, devoted family, fame, fortune, and a hugely successful freelance career.
On March 30, 2020, her world turned upside down overnight when the love of her life, her husband Derek, contracted the coronavirus.
Hooked up to tubes, IVs, and a ventilator, Derek unwittingly became the nation’s guinea pig in the fight against this deadly disease.
Kate, in turn, became Britain’s publicist, updating viewers, listeners and readers of her book on his progress.
In doing so, she became a beacon of light in a time of unprecedented darkness.
Her strength in the face of the ultimate worst-case scenario came when the rest of us were in free fall — limited to one hour of daily exercise, banned from socializing, hibernating under a mask. This was because they were worried about their relatives who were at high risk.
Kate and Derek’s plight has become our worst nightmare.
Most people would have cowered and given up.
Not Kate.
At a time when make-up artists were not allowed in TV studios, she applied layer upon layer of TV make-up and smiled.
Showing true British courage, Kate kept moving forward.
And back and forth.
Working every hour God gave her, she was a full-time caregiver, homemaker, broadcaster, and COVID-19 poster girl.
The latter is an adjective no one would have asked for.
Day in and day out, she walked to work and did her job, and never complained.
Of course, behind the scenes, there were constant tears. Sadness that the man who was once larger than life was visibly shrinking next to her.
And, more realistically, there was also money to worry about.
As Derek’s medical bills mounted, Kate continued to fight – for those who had no voice, those who could not afford the level of care that her illustrious 25-year career had afforded her.
Friends say she refuses to divulge numbers on how much effort she puts into keeping Derek fighting day in and day out, lest he be seen as “whining.”
Her return to work just days after saying our final goodbyes is a testament to her grit, trust, and pragmatism.
Kate, we’re all rooting for you.