Kate Garraway says cruel trolls accuse her of no longer caring about Derek Draper

Good Morning Britain 's Kate Garraway revealed vicious social media users have accused her of no longer caring about her husband Derek Draper.

She returned to the show after two days away where Charlotte Hawkins stepped in, as it was Derek's birthday.

She spoke to him via video call and celebrated with a cake, but admitted the day was "challenging" due to him still being in intensive care, but that she hoped "the love seeped through".

Kate was speaking about Laura Heath, a paramedic who had been subjected to horrendous online abuse after she posted a glamorous selfie in her uniform.

Kate defended herself and said she was cheerful on television because it was her job (ITV)

Kate said she thought it was because of her cheerful disposition that people assumed that since she was smiling on the television, that meant she had abandoned Derek, who is in intensive care after a battle with COVID-19 left him in a medically-induced coma.

Kate returned to the show on Wednesday after a two-day break as Derek's birthday was on Saturday and she said it was "challenging" for the family as he is minimally conscious.

"It's that perception isn't it, we have talked about this, with me doing this show, we are having a laugh and a joke because that's our job in the morning to cheer people up during a pandemic," Kate said to her co host Adil Ray.

Adil Ray said he stayed off the "cesspit" of social media (ITV)

People then say, 'Hang on, does that mean you're not worried about Derek, you're not feeling sad about it?'

"Obviously she is professional and doing her job, and people say, 'Why are you posting and posing when you should be saving lives?'

"And not really understanding that we are all human, and the most important thing is to have a laugh and a smile," she added.

Laura Heath hit back at trolls who shamed her for wearing a full face of make-up to work (Twitter)

"But even if you think that, it does not warrant abuse," said Adil, who called social media a "cesspit" and admitted he was trying to use it less.

"It's brutal," agreed Kate.

Laura, 24, had received horrendous abuse as people accused her of being "vain" and even slammed her makeup skills after she posted selfies in her uniform.

She defended herself on the show, explaining that she was young and liked to take selfies, but that this had absolutely no bearing on her ability to do her incredibly stressful job as a paramedic, from which she deserved some respite.

* Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV at 6am