Ben Shephard appeared to be trying to fight back tears as he spoke about Kate Garraway and her husband on Good Morning Britain on Friday.
Ben and his co-host Ranvir Singh were keen to discuss the wonderful news that Derek Draper has returned home to Kate and their two kids over a year after he was hospitalised.
After speaking live to Kate from her London home, Ben recalled the moment he found out that Derek had been taken into hospital and was visibly emotional.
"I think it’s really important, as Kate said, she can’t share with us exactly where it is and there is a really long, long way to go… but this is a monumental step," Ben said of Derek's progress.
He then paused for a second as he composed himself before continuing to speak to Ranvir.
"I remember sitting with her about a year ago and her telling me that he’d gone into hospital, and what that felt like and just thinking at the time, ‘It’s going to be fine, it’s going to be fine'," he recalled.
"And it hasn’t been. It’s been anything but fine," Ben added.
Earlier on in the show, the hosting duo revealed that they would be speaking with Kate as Ben said: "We are all smiling this morning, aren’t we?" to which Ranvir replied: “It’s made everybody smile."
Ben continued: "The news that he has been able to travel home and is living at home now with Kate, Darcey and Bill.
"Honestly this means an awful lot to us because we’ve shared this with Kate personally, but when we come in and see the messages from you guys and how pleased you are.
"It’s the first step in a very, very long journey for Derek and Kate and for the family trying to work out how it’s going to unfold. There is 24 hour care for him at home," Ben added.
“It’s a progress thing isn’t it,” Ranvir said. “Now doctors are saying he is responding regularly which is an amazing thing, but there’s going to be a lot of help needed for Kate and the family."
Showbiz correspondent Richard Arnold added: "It’s a God send. Having been with her through this journey, it’s been absolutely heartbreaking. It’s not so much joy unconfined, but it’s a relief, palpable relief for all of us."
Ranvir then commented that Kate probably didn't sleep much last night, to which Ben replied: "I don’t think she’s slept at all.
"Theres a lot of adapting of the house to do and a lot of adapting to the way the family live, of course."
*Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
