Kate Garraway has made an emotional plea to people who are flouting the latest coronavirus rules, urging them to wake up to the severity of the pandemic.
Kate knows first hand just how devastating an affect the virus can have as her husband remains in hospital, six months after being struck down by COVID-19.
While he is now free of coronavirus, former Labour aide Derek, who was placed in a medically induced coma, has been left in a critical condition with his organs ravaged and him losing a lot of weight.
And, after pictures of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's dad Stanley shopping without a face mask emerged, she said she wished people could see just what the virus has done to Derek.
Speaking on Thursday's Good Morning Britain, she said: "I have huge sympathy with people who are fed up with it. I think if you haven't been directly touched by it, you haven't seen the devastation, but your life has been devastated – your livelihood, your ability to feel a sense of joy – then, of course, I think you're going to get frustrated.
"But, you know, it does make me tempted to show a picture of Derek in his current state, and say 'You don't want this in your life'.
"And you don't know who it will affect and how, so, you know, stick to [the rules]."
Kate also shared the heartbreaking news that Derek's mum and dad still haven't seen him since he's been in hospital, explaining: "Derek's mum and dad haven't been able to see Derek.
"And I think if they can go six months without giving a hug to their son, who's so desperately ill, then the rest of us can probably get through."
Reacting to Kate's plea on Twitter, her GMB colleague Piers Morgan posted: "Well said, Kate," and his followers agreed, with one tweeting: "Such a lovely, dignified lady. Its awful that her family are going through this.
"Knowing about the utter drivel being spouted about COVID-19 by people whose social lives are being inconvenienced must be incredibly difficult. Its not JUST about deaths but the damage COVID-19 does!"
