TOUGH TIMES
Emotional Kate Garraway comes face to face with man who shared a hospital ward with late husband Derek – live on GMB
Kate and writer Michael Rosen were talking about a hit ITV drama
KATE Garraway has had an emotional reunion with an author who shared a hospital ward with her late husband Derek Draper.
The Good Morning Britain anchor, 56, whose , put on a brave face for the moving chat with kids author Michael Rosen, 77.
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The pair were talking about new ITV medical drama Breathtaking, centred on the Covid pandemic, and his sense of "survivors' guilt".
Back in 2020, the Going on a Bear Hunt writer went into intensive care with Covid-19 for 47 days.
He previously candidly admitted he was "hours from dying" in his harrowing health battle, on the same ward as Kate's husband amid his Covid battle.
Derek died in January following a heart attack after his health was devastated by Covid.
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Shared ward as fought for lives
On Thursday's GMB, Kate told viewers how, initially, she was unaware writer Michael and her late husband were suffering at the same time.
She said: "Derek was in the same ward.
"And you were in a coma at the same time."
The pair then recalled the words of a kind nurse Beth, who was looking after the pair after transferring from Great Ormond Street Hospital.
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They then discussed the lack of PPE during the pandemic, before Michael told of his survivors guilt.
Kate Garraway makes touching tribute to Derek Draper during radio show return as she plays husband's funeral song
Kate said: "A lot of staff feel guilt - which they shouldn't do, but do feel guilty of what they could have done differently - and shock and trauma.
"And in your own way you have felt - although again you shouldn't do - you have felt guilt, tell us about that."
Referring to Derek's passing, he replied: "Well I am telling you Kate.
"I hear about people who died and meet people, I get into a cab and the cabbie says their relations have died from Covid.
"And I think, why am I here?"
Ben, whose last GMB day was revealed on the ITV show, then joined the conversation and told of his "arms' length" experience via best mate Kate.
He admitted: "It was harrowing for me to go through."
It is only Kate's second week at work following Derek's funeral.
Last week, she told the show how being referred to as a "widow" for the first time "took my breath away."
Derek died on January 3 from complications of long Covid.
The Lobbyist-turned-psychologist was one of the UK's longest suffering patients of Covid.
After his diagnosis he battled a variety of health problems when the virus caused brain inflammation, kidney failure, and damage to his liver and pancreas.
Kate paid her last respects at Derek's funeral this month, during which she made a touching tribute to her late spouse.
Meanwhile, telly fans branded her "so strong" as she made her ITV show comeback.
Kate's farewell to TV pal
Yet she will soon be separated from her best mate and presenting pal as Ben Shephard's GMB exit date was revealed.
On Thursday's Good Morning Britain, Kate was talking about Coronation Street character Mary Taylor's obsession with Ben.
In a recent ITV soap scene, aired on Valentine's Day, Mary told how she would be "crying into my Ben Shephard cushion."
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Kate then quipped: "We are all going to be doing that tomorrow.
"At Good Morning Britain we are losing him."
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