GOOD Morning Britain host Kate Garraway’s return date to the ITV daytime series has been revealed.
The Sun can confirm the mum-of-two will soon be back on screens after leaving fans worried with a “no show” today, Thursday.
Kate also sparked concern when she was absent from the Good Morning Britain hotseat twice in March, as well as earlier this month.
We can now exclusively report the telly favourite will return tomorrow, Friday May 17, and front the three-hour show with popular stand-in co-host Rob Rinder, 45.
Reassuring fans Kate’s recent absence was nothing untoward, a spokesperson additionally told us she had merely booked some time off.
This may well be because she will shoulder the bulk of presenting duties during the upcoming May half term break.
The popular broadcaster has also endured a tough time off-screen of late.
Kate’s husband, former political lobbyist Derek Draper, tragically died aged 56 in January, following four years of health struggles.
The dad of two was left fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a heart attack over the festive period but was already one of the UK’s longest-suffering Covid patients, after being diagnosed in March 2020.
She paid a touching tribute to her late spouse at his funeral in February and, just days later, made her “brave” GMB return.
Smooth FM host Kate hasn’t shied away in addressing the wider issues surrounding her spouse’s illness and consequent passing, including the struggles of the care system and plight of carers as well as the discrepancy between NHS and private care.
With this, she has been candid about her financial difficulties.
Kate recently told how she was withdrawing cash from her pension early to try to stem the crippling costs of the bills.
On a previous GMB episode, she told how she had looked into the same finance technique to release funds from Derek’s pension when he was still alive, in order to again pay off the fees.
She confessed: “I have had to withdraw the bit you can tax free from my pension to pay for belated bills for my husband, who has now passed away.
“People are having to do things – it wasn’t a huge pension in the first place – which aren’t what they saved for.”
Previously, Kate has told The Sun about the huge medical fees of Derek’s complex requirements.
Judge Rinder meanwhile is also a stand-in on the programme, replacing ITV stalwart Adil Ray.
Following fan-favourite Friday host Ben Shephard’s departure for fellow ITV daytime show This Morning back in February, Adil told fans he would front the show for a number of Fridays until September.
Taking to his page on X back in April, Citizen Khan star Adil, 49, addressed fans and wrote: “Thanks for watching @gmb. “Off for Fridays over the Easter break.
“Back with you from April 12 peeps, and for quite a few Fridays until September.”
Attempting a joke, he added: “FriRays they’re all calling it. Well one person did. That’ll do.”
Viewers have previously demanded Rob is a permanent fixture on GMB, claiming he “elevates” the daytime TV show.
