Susanna Reid says Kate Garraway is an ‘inspiration’ amid Derek’s coronavirus battle during the pandemic ‘nightmare’
SUSANNA Reid has hailed her Good Morning Britain co-star Kate Garraway an “inspiration” for the way way she’s handled her coronavirus “nightmare”.
The Good Morning Britain anchor has spoken sensitively about her friend and co-star Kate’s difficult year that has seen her husband Derek spend six months fighting for his life in hospital.
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Susanna Reid has praised GMB co-star Kate Garraway[/caption]He was taken seriously ill with coronavirus in late March and his condition quickly deteriorated.
Derek spent three months in a coma and has been in intensive care for almost the entirety of his hospital stay.
Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph’s Stella magazine, Susanna said: “It has been a nightmare that has knocked all of us for six, but Kate is living through it every day.”
Kate took an extended break from GMB to be with her family while dealing with Derek’s illness.
Kate returned to Smooth Radio last week[/caption]But she returned in July to try and regain a sense of normality.
Susanna continued: “To watch her put on a brave face and carry on has been an utter inspiration for all of us who work on the show, and I also know she’s an inspiration to everyone who watches it.
“I don’t want to speak on her behalf, but we are a very tight team and this has been the foremost of our thoughts.
“But it was exactly because of all the fear and anxiety that it became so important for us to cover stories of hope and inspiration.
“Like Captain Tom walking around his garden and lovely Sister Anthea Allen at my local hospital, St George’s in Tooting, who had all these local people making food and cakes for the nurses.”
Kate and Susanna are good friends as well as co-stars[/caption]The virus has had a profound effect on Susanna too, as she admitted to waking up screaming and in tears in the early stages of the pandemic.
Last week Kate returned to her show on Smooth Radio for the first time since Derek’s battle with Covid.
It came a day after she told Good Morning Britain viewers she’s re-read all of husband Derek’s loving cards after their 15th wedding anniversary.
The journalist was unable to see her seriously ill husband on the day itself, but she did raise a drink to him at home with her family.
Kate returned to GMB in July[/caption]Speaking on GMB, she said: “We did our best to make it special. We had him on Facetime. My mum and dad are on childcare duties overnight while I’m here and they were there as well and we raised a glass and said happy anniversary.
“I have a card to take to read to him. It made me go through all the cards he’s written to me. He was a prolific card writer for birthdays and things. He’d always remember… And hopefully he’ll do it again.
“It will be strange reading to him, but this time I have made a bit more of an effort.”