Kate Garraway comforts sobbing Holly Willoughby

Kate Garraway comforted a sobbing Holly Willoughby on Thursday's episode of This Morning, as they discussed her husband's coronavirus battle. 

Appearing on the magazine show ahead of the evening's National Television Awards, where Kate's documentary Finding Derek is nominated in the Authored Documentary category, Kate drove Holly to tears. 

The GMB star, 53, made the heartbreaking admission that she feels a 'gnawing loneliness' in the wake of Derek's life-changing battle, while also admitting she feels guilt for attending the event without him.  

As Holly began weeping during the chat, Kate said: 'I don't want to make everyone miserable! You'll make me cry now, before Holly said: 'It's just a tough story isn't it'. 

Derek suffered one of the country's worst cases of coronavirus, slipping in and out of a coma and remaining in hospital for a year. 

He has since returned home, where their house has been repurposed to facilitate his extra needs, which includes requiring around the clock care. 

Speaking about missing her husband, Kate said: 'There's a weird gnawing lonliness. Not to sound ungrateful because he's here and many people aren't...

'But you just want to share the problems with him when the kids are doing something. It's a very strange feeling...

'It's a day at a time and trying to keep going and be grateful for the people around me that are helping. He's here and he's got a chance.'

On attending the NTAs without Derek, she said: 'I wish I hadn't left him babysitting. I just had this feeling things might not be great again...

'I just feel sad. I feel sad it's our wedding anniversary tomorrow... I felt it was wrong to be glamming up and going out when leaving them.' 

Kate weighed in on the frustration of anti-vaxxers, saying: 'I understand how you can feel frustrated by the attention on the pandemic but its touched everybody in some way and if you don't think it exists come and spend an hour in my home...

'You don't want worry in your life. Vaccination could make the effects and symptoms better and then it seems like a no brainer to me.'

The This Morning appearance came shortly after Kate asked TV viewers to vote for her documentary ahead of the annual awards ceremony.

The TV presenter's documentary, which charts her husband's battle with coronavirus, is nominated in the Authored Documentary category.

Kate admitted she considered not attending the ceremony until a woman stopped her in the street and told how her much the programme meant to her.

Sharing an image from the documentary that showed herself and Derek on their wedding day, Kate said she is 'very proud' of the show.    

She wrote: 'Have been feeling very torn about asking you to vote for our documentary #FindingDerek's nomination for @officialntas tomorrow. 

'I am very proud of it but felt I shouldn't be asking for more from you. I have even wondered if I shouldn't go to such a sparkling event and take time away from the family who need me now more than ever. But a stranger just changed my mind! 

'She was walking past our house & called out "hope you win". I thanked her but said didn't think we would as so many good ones in the category & I hadn't been campaigning for votes as others have. She looked horrified. 

'"But you must" she said "my sister died from Covid damage two weeks ago. Her heart had been ruined by the virus last summer. She watched your documentary and it gave her so much hope." It broke my heart. 

'So now I am asking you to vote please - not for me but to highlight the thousands that have lost lives and livelihoods to

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