“After caring for Derek, and her family, for almost four years, Kate needs to get back to some sort of normality. And she wants to throw herself back into work, 3.45am starts and all.

“It also goes without saying that, in effect, being a full-time carer for Derek has also had a massive impact on her financial situation.

“Quite simply, she needs to work to provide for their kids, and bring stability back into their lives.

“It’s not a decision she’s taken lightly but she’s genuinely excited to get back into the studio.

“She knows she needs to bite the bullet, and now seems as good a time as any.”

Kate was last seen on GMB on December 8.

She is provisionally scheduled to return full-time, though ITV have offered their full support and said she can take time off as and when.

Kate's daughter Darcey was one of the pallbearers at Derek's funeral on Friday

ITV are due to trail Kate's return this evening - pictured here with co-host Ben ShephardCredit: Rex

It is also understood bosses are providing a full duty-of-care package including counselling if needed.

A source added: “Kate’s well- being is everyone’s main concern.”
Derek had flown to Mexico the week of December 8 for specialist treatment for long Covid.

While there, he suffered a devastating cardiac arrest, and Kate was forced to tell ITV execs she needed indefinite time off.

She flew to Mexico to be by his bedside, informing only close family and friends about his condition.

Tomorrow, Kate will be live on air to talk for the first time about her husband’s brave final battle, and discuss his funeral, which was attended by a host of politicians and celebrity friends of the couple.

Kate fought back tears at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill, North London — where the couple wed in 2005.

The priest who married the pair gave a reading during the two-hour Catholic ceremony.

Ex-PM Tony Blair, political adviser Derek’s former boss, gave a speech.

Sir Elton John sang Skyline Pigeon, with lyrics including “Turn me loose from your hands/Let me fly to distant lands”.

Kate’s GMB co-stars past and present, including Ben, Richard Madeley, Piers Morgan — now at TalkTV — Charlotte Hawkins and Susanna Reid attended in support of their popular colleague.

The couple’s children, Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14, laid flowers saying “we love you Dad”, with Darcey one of the pallbearers.

Last summer courageous Kate was honoured with an MBE for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.

The presenter, who always vowed “never to give up” on Derek, produced two award-winning documentaries on the psychotherapist’s fight with coronavirus.

She was widely praised by carers’ groups and charities for raising awareness on the plight of those looking after family with debilitating conditions.

Kate, who survived on four hours sleep caring for Derek, suffered her own secret health battle last year when rushed to A&E at 4.30am.

She had collapsed and doctors warned her she could be suffering from stress-related angina. Kate has also spent the last few years fighting to provide for her family.

Reports have suggested she may be forced to sell her home which was adapted to accommodate Derek’s recovery.

And last year she was landed with a £716,000 tax bill.

The couple had to close down Derek’s psychotherapy company with him unable to work.

In addition, Kate is understood to have run up medical bills totalling almost £1million, refusing to stint on Derek’s healthcare.

She was left devastated when he passed away on January 3.

Kate wrote: “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 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.”

Derek was among the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with coronavirus in March 2020, and was admitted to an intensive care unit and put on a ventilator.

He spent 13 months in hospitals, becoming Britain’s longest suffering in-patient.

Kate and Derek have two children, Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14Credit: Alamy

Kate was last seen on GMB on December 8Credit: Rex

Always giving all she can

FOUR years ago, Kate Garraway had it all — a happy, devoted family, fame, fortune and a hugely successful freelance career.

When husband Derek, the love of her life, was stricken with coronavirus on March 3O, 2020, her world turned on its head overnight.

Wired up to tubes, drips and a ventilator, Derek became the nation’s unwitting guinea pig in the fight against this pernicious disease.

Kate, in turn, became the UK’s spokeswoman — updating viewers, listeners and readers of her books of his progress.

In so doing, she became a beacon of light in a period of unprecedented darkness.

Her strength in the face of the ultimate worst-case scenario came when the rest of us were in freefall — constrained to an hour’s daily exercise, banned from socialising, hibernating behind masks and fearful for high-risk relatives.

Kate and Derek’s plight became our collective worst nightmare.

Most would have shrivelled up, and given up.

Not Kate.

She plastered on her TV make-up — when make-up artists weren’t allowed in TV studios — and flashed her smile.

Showing true British pluck, Kate kept going.

And going and going.

Working all hours God gave, she was a full-time carer, homemaker, broadcaster and Covid poster girl.

The latter being an epithet no one would have wanted.

Day after day, she trekked to work, did her job, and never, ever complained.

Behind the scenes, of course, there were endless tears — sadness at the once larger-than-life man visibly shrinking beside her.

And, more pragmatically, there were worries over money.

As Derek’s medical fees racked up, Kate continued to fight — fight for those without a voice, those who couldn’t afford the level of care to which a stellar 25-year career afforded her.

Friends say she refuses to give a figure for how much she ploughed into keeping Derek fighting day after day lest she be seen as “whingeing”.