GOOD Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway has revealed her kids saw their sick dad Derek for the first time since March over Christmas.
The presenter said there was a “lovely moment” when daughter Darcey, 14, and son Billy, 11, were given the chance to see their beloved dad, who contracted the coronavirus last year.
He still remains in intensive care and is now the country’s longest-fighting Covid-19 patient.
Derek has lost eight stone and Kate admitted her sadness at seeing how much he has changed.
The 53-year-old told co-host Ben Shephard on today’s show: “(Christmas) was tough, wasn’t it? For everyone.
“I knew it was going to be tough. There was a lovely moment which we did have over the period, we got to see Derek and the children did, which was the first time they were able to do that.
“And of course it was very heightened with emotion because he has so changed.
“It kind of amplified how very sad it was and how different it is.”
Kate had been visiting Derek, 53, in hospital up until the third national lockdown was announced and added: “Then instantly now, I’m in a position now where I can’t see him.
“We’re into lockdown now so no visits at all and that will be very impactful on a lot of people. It’s tough on lots of people.”
Kate went on to admit the third lockdown was extremely hard on her children who are stuck indoors and missing their friends.
She told GMB’s Dr Hilary Jones: “Darcey says, ‘please follow the rules everyone because I can’t stand this any longer’.”
The presenter threw her support behind Clap for Heroes which returns at 8pm tonight to honour everyone who has shown resilience during the pandemic.
Organiser Annemarie Plas said: “When we first started clapping for our incredible NHS staff, care workers and key workers last March, none of us had any expectation that we would be in an even worse situation nine months later.
“Last year the weekly applause united communities and had us talking to our neighbours whilst we acknowledged the immense sacrifices our carers were making. They were and still are heroes, but this time round we also want to recognise all the other heroes that keep the country going and have endured such challenging times.”
Kate recently said she suffered a “calamitous” time over the festive period when a pipe exploded and flooded her house.
She also explained she wasn’t able to get hold of any food after failing to bag a delivery slot before Christmas.
The star posted on Instagram: “Well here we are folks – #newyearseve – the last day of a year few will be sorry to see the back of.
“Have been quiet for a while – getting through Christmas has been a challenge hasn’t it with all the emotions it stirs in our strange world & no where really to put them – except in hope.
“And there is still so much real hope out there. Not just in the extraordinary health care workers & researchers who definitely hold a bright light for the future. But in all the little kindnesses.
“We had a calamitous few days in the run up to Christmas – but we got through thanks to some wonderful people.”
