Kate Garraway has spoken for the first time following the death of her husband Derek Draper.

The former lobbyist and political adviser died on January 3 after suffering long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus.

Mr Draper fell seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital before he was discharged.

Despite being free of the virus, he had suffered long-lasting damage to his organs and required daily care.

Kate Garraway spoke to ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Monday morning in her first television appearance since Derek’s death.

Surrounded by three baskets of well wishes from colleagues and viewers, Kate said: "It is just amazing, it feels like my emotions are at 110 per cent.

"The unbelievable love that we all have for each other, we are just very very lucky.

"The love we have as a family, all of us together, that we are so connected as we always have been, having those messages makes me weep because I feel so grateful."

Kate also revealed that she will return to hosting Good Morning Britain on Thursday.

She said: "I want to thank everybody. A new life starts now and I do not quite know how it is going to be, but grief is not containable.

"Life has to start. We have to pick ourselves up and go on and that is what Derek did and would want me to do."

In a post on Instagram following the death of her husband last month, the Good Morning Britain presenter said: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.

“As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.

“Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed. I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible.

“Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.”

In 2021, Good Morning Britain presenter Garraway won a prize at the National Television Awards for the documentary Finding Derek, about her family’s experience during the pandemic.

It detailed her husband’s treatment and his subsequent return to their family home.

In July 2022, Garraway confirmed Mr Draper had been readmitted to hospital and later that month it was reported that his condition had worsened.

His battle with the virus won much attention and support, including from former prime minister Boris Johnson and the royal family.

Garraway and Mr Draper married in 2005 and had two children, Darcey and Billy.