Kate Garraway returns to present GMB for the first time since her husband fell critically ill

Kate Garraway was welcomed back to Good Morning Britain today after taking time off while her husband is ill.

Co-host Ben Shephard said at the start of the programme he had a ‘big smile’ on his face because of her return. 

Mrs Garraway’s husband Derek Draper, 52, was admitted to hospital with coronavirus in March and was put into a coma by doctors.

After being welcomed back by her colleagues, the presenter said: ‘Don’t be too nice because I’ll get emotional, just go back to being rude’. 

Mr Shephard said: ‘It’s lovely having you back, back to work in a long time.’

Mrs Garraway, 53, said: ‘We’ll have some fun this morning, we’ve had a lot of emotion.’

Well-wishers poured out their support online for the ‘strong’ and ‘positive’ presenter as she returned to their screens this morning. 

Co-host Ben Shephard said at the start of the programme he had a ‘big smile’ on his face because of Kate Garraway’s return

She told today’s programme she had been contacted by David Beckham on Instagram asking if there was anything he could do to help her. 

She said his ‘wife’s wardrobe’ would be appreciated. 

Mrs Garraway also revealed that she had a mini-makeover for her big return today, saying her hair was ‘a little blonder than we might be expecting’.

She added: ‘If ever there’s a professional crisis, fake tan, put very long false eyelashes on and go blonder. That was my preparation tactic for coming back this morning.’ 

Later on in the show presenter Lorraine Kelly also spoke of her joy at having her back, saying: ‘Kate I know you don’t want a big fuss but it is a joy to have you back.’ 

After being welcomed back by her colleagues, the presenter said: ‘Don’t be too nice because I’ll get emotional, just go back to being rude’

Kate Garraway’s husband has been in hospital since March. The star has been told his recovery could take years (pictured in 2019)

Last week, Mrs Garraway said during an interview with the ITV programme that her husband, who is receiving ongoing treatment, ‘sort of can’t wake up’ and doctors ‘don’t know how much better’ he will get.

‘Wonderfully his eyes are opening but we have no real knowledge of what he can see and feel and hear,’ she said.

Mrs Garraway and Mr Draper, a former lobbyist and political adviser, planned to renew their wedding vows before he became ill.

The couple married in 2005.

On Sunday, a post on the Good Morning Britain Twitter account said: ‘Kate Garraway is returning to GMB tomorrow! We can’t wait.’

Mrs Garraway, 53, said: ‘We’ll have some fun this morning, we’ve had a lot of emotion’

Well-wishers poured out their support online for the presenter as she returned to their screens this morning

Mrs Garraway is returning to the show while Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid take their summer break.   

On Wednesday Kate returned to the show update fans on her husband’s condition while he remains in a ‘minimum state of consciousness’ in intensive care after coronavirus caused ‘extraordinary damage’ on his body.    

Mrs Garraway has said that despite her husband’s ill health she remains hopeful that he will recover, as he has already defied expectations with his incredible progress. 

She added: ‘He’s been very very sick, but it’s a new disease, there’s no data, so what they can say is it’s great he’s here. There’s flickers of hope, his lings are starting to recover, his kidneys are doing better, his liver, but they don’t know how much better he can get.’