Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway says she sits by her husband Derek Draper 's side all night as he continues to battle the effects of long Covid.

The 54-year-old TV presenter has revealed that Derek is only awake for 28 hours a week and so she wants to be with him so he can "feel her presence".

Speaking to The Telegraph, Kate said: "‘It’s tempting when he drops off to use the time to prepare for work the next day or do the mountains of washing caring for him creates...or prepare the feed for his tube.

"But I have to remind myself that it’s just as important to sit with him, so that he can feel my presence and I’ll be there when he wakes, even for just 10 minutes at a time."

Derek, 54, was diagnosed with the virus in March 2020 – and subsequently put into an induced coma to protect his organs.

The journalist is said to require round the clock care with two people needed to wash him while the medical staff work shifts so that he always has someone by his side.

Derek, who shares children Billy, 11 and Darcey, 15, with Kate, can barely speak and eats with the aid of a feeding tube.

However, speaking at the Who Cares Win awards recently, Kate revealed some progress. She said: "He’s had a good day today, we did some exercises together before I came out.

"A day at a time, but today’s a good day. Thank you for asking, that’s really kind of you."

Kate's documentary about her husband's illness called Finding Derek, recently won a National TV Award.

She also plans to make a follow-up film.

In her new memoir The Power Of Hope, which was serialised by The Mail on Sunday, Kate said Derek told her as the ambulance prepared to take him to hospital: "Kate, this is not the last time you will see me. It isn't."'

However she then revealed that Derek told her from hospital: "I want you at the funeral, but I'm not sure about the children."

As he described his symptoms Derek told Kate "how bad it is" as he struggled for breath.

He wrote: "It is unimaginable. I literally feel like I'm drowning and every breath is my last.

"Please tell them both I love them. The doctor says there's no chance of me dying. I just have to keep going."

The former lobbyist admitted they he spent every second thinking he was going to die.

Kate poignantly revealed the last words her husband said to her, over the phone, before being put in a coma were: "I love you. You saved my life."