Susanna Reid will selflessly return to Good Morning Britain early so that her colleague and friend Kate Garraway can go on her first holiday without her husband Derek Draper – who has been battling coronavirus since March last year.
Kate, 54, revealed on Thursday’s episode of the show that her co-host would be taking over for a day so that she could go on the ’emotional’ break with her children: William, 12, and Darcey, 15.
The presenter was also left red-faced as she confessed that she had to make a mad dash to the GMB studio that morning after she accidentally overslept by two hours.
Kind: Susanna Reid will selflessly return to Good Morning Britain early so that her colleague and friend Kate Garraway can go on her first holiday without her husband Derek Draper
Kate explained to co-host Richard Bacon: ‘Derek’s family are descending to take care of Derek while I take the kids away. I want to say a massive thank you to Susanna, she has been very kind.’
Explaining the difficult logistics of the plan, Kate continued: ‘I had a very tight window where I could get everybody to come and look after Derek.
‘Obviously he’ll have nurses as well, but I also needed friends to help us because I think the three of us are quite emotional about going away without him.
Of going away without her husband, Kate added: ‘We wondered whether that would be too strange to do,
‘It feels like a bit of a moment. In fact my son Billy is concerned. It feels strange to do it, but we need to do it so we can have a few days and come back refreshed.’
‘We had a very tight window and nobody from GMB was available,’ Kate explained.
‘So, Susanna is coming off her holiday to come back for one day only to present the show tomorrow to allow me to go on holiday,’ she added gratefully.
‘The three of us are quite emotional about going away without him’: Kate is going away to rest with her children, William, 12, and Darcey, 15, while Derek is cared for by family and nurses
During the show, Kate also made the hilarious confession that she had to dash into the studio to present the show on time, after accidentally oversleeping by two hours.
She told Richard: ‘I overslept dramatically by two hours. I normally set my alarm for 2.45am because I like to come in, have a cup of tea and settle in.
‘But I got in the car at about 4.40am. There are a lot of nervous producers around this morning.’
Kate’s husband Derek was released from the hospital in March this year after being first diagnosed in March 2020.
The virus wreaked havoc throughout his entire body, resulting in kidney failure, liver and pancreatic damage.
‘It feels like a bit of a moment’: This will be the first time Kate and her children have been away without Derek since he began his battle with coronavirus in March 2020 (pictured with his children in 2019 on Good Morning Britian)
On more than one occasion his heart stopped beating, he battled bacterial pneumonia and fought multiple infections which punctured holes in his lungs.
He is considered to be the longest surviving Covid-19 patient in the country. The former lobbyist continues to recover from the illness at their London home.
It comes after last week Kate admitted she feels like she ‘failed’ her children as she struggled to juggle homeschooling and looking after Derek as he recovered from Covid.
The star said she found it ‘very challenging’ due to dealing with her ‘very specific set of circumstances’ at the time.
Journey: The virus wreaked havoc throughout his entire body, resulting in kidney failure, liver and pancreatic damage (Derek is pictured in hospital)
During a chat about the recent A-Level results on Wednesday’s Good Morning Britain, she said: ‘We all know that it’s been almost impossible for youngsters to deal with this.
‘I know that I have frankly failed my children in supporting them in their homeschooling.
‘I know I had very specific set of circumstances going on for the bulk of the time, but I found it very difficult to get online and help them to work their way through the system. And, you know, it was very, very challenging.’
Heartbreaking: Derek is considered to be the longest surviving Covid-19 patient in the country. The former lobbyist continues to recover from the illness at their London home (pictured with Kate in 2019)
Kate has been by her husband Derek’s side during his recovery from coronavirus after he contracted the illness last March which left him hospitalised.
Last week it was revealed that she has found his return from hospital this year ‘bittersweet’, according to close friend and television presenter Clare Nasir, 51.
She said that Kate ‘can never switch off from what’s happening’ and has a lot on her plate being a presenter, mother, carer and wife.
Family: The star admitted recently she found it ‘very challenging’ to homeschool her children during the pandemic due to dealing with her ‘very specific set of circumstances’ at the time
Kate recently enjoyed her first night out since Derek became seriously unwell as she attended the West End opening of Wonderville at the Palace Theatre.
Clare told Closer: ‘Kate has been incredible throughout this – even more so since Derek has been home. She now basically does four jobs – presenter, mum, wife and carer.
‘She’s on the go all the time, and has been physically and mentally pushed to the extreme this last year and a half. So a chance to go out to the theatre – something she and the kids love – was wonderful for her.
‘However, it was bittersweet, as Kate can never switch off from what’s happening. I know she would have had a hotline to the house at all times and her focus would have been on Derek.’
A representative for Kate has been contacted by MailOnline for a comment.
Speaking recently at the West End event, Kate said: ‘It’s our first time out since February 2020 so we are really excited, and this is a date that has sprung up because it was going to happen a few weeks ago and then it didn’t happen and then we just thought, ‘Let’s go for it’ – so very exciting.
‘It was very strange leaving him tonight to come out because he is a big fan of magic, but it is not possible at the moment so we just said next time and see him when we get back.’
‘Presenter, mother, carer and wife’: Kate has been by Derek’s side during his recovery from coronavirus after he contracted the illness last March which left him hospitalised