Richard Arnold reveals special plans for 'courageous' Kate Garraway's GMB return

ITV's Richard Arnold has celebrated his friend Kate Garraway for her bravery ahead of her return to Good Morning Britain on Thursday this week.

The breakfast TV star praised his co-star for her emotional Good Morning Britain interview in which she revealed her daughter Darcey's brave last words to Derek Draper, who died aged 56. The mum-of-two revealed it had been an "honour" to care for her husband.

It has only been a few days since Draper's funeral which was attended by family and friends, including celebrities Elton John to Tony Blair. Many people turned out to pay their respects to the former political lobbyist.

Now as Garraway prepares to return to work this week, Arnold revealed she will receive a special welcome on GMB. He told The Sun: "I know there'll be a huge warm welcome for her when she gets back. You know, obviously it's a very poignant time, very personal time for the team as well."

The TV personality heaped on the praise for his friend as he called her courageous. He added: "Like so many people in her position she's demonstrated such courage and such humanity and I know the viewers relate to that, too. I mean anyone, who has been a carer, unsung or otherwise, you've got to dig deep.

"I know she draws an awful lot of that strength, not just from her pals here at GMB both on the screen and behind the scenes, but also the outpouring of support she's had over the last few years from the viewers.

What did Kate Garraway say?

During the interview with Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, Garraway thanked everyone for the outpouring of love she has received in recent weeks. She also had huge praise for her children Darcey and Bill who have been a big support to her.

She shared: "They’ve taken on board a caring role and I’m so proud of them. They didn't want to pressure him to keep going for us – I don't think he did. It’s lovely that they saw his perspective in that way. I think it’s extraordinary."

Also, Garraway shared her brave daughter's last words to Draper before his death. She said: "For the children, when we heard the doctors say he won't survive this, they've heard this so many times and he did. It was a challenge. We knew that Derek could still hear. It was a challenge to let him know he wasn't letting us down.

"They were so beautiful, the children, about that. Individually they had time with him on their own. Darcey said, 'Dad, if you can't do this we'll be OK. You release yourself if you need to go.' I thought that was extraordinarily brave."

Why is Kate Garraway returning to work?

In the GMB interview, Garraway explained why she wanted to return to work now. "Everybody has to," she said. "Life has to start now. Bill's going to have to go to school." Then, she made light of the situation saying that her son was going to be late for school.

She quipped: "Someone better tell him to hurry up or I'll be in trouble. We have to pick ourselves up and go on. That’s what Derek would want us to do. Thanks to everyone who made that possible. There’s lot to say about the system. For now it’s an outpouring of love."

Read more

• Kate Garraway reveals daughter’s brave last words to Derek Draper

• Kate Garraway supported by kids and Elton John at Derek Draper's funeral

• Derek Draper's friends share emotional tributes as Kate Garraway announces husband's death at 56

• Kate Garraway’s touching conversation with her daughter after Derek Draper’s death

Watch Kate Garraway's first interview on GMB after Derek Draper's funeral