CARRY ON legend Anita Harris fought back tears as she opened up on the one-year anniversary of her husband's death and the "parallels" to Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway's grief.
The Carry On Doctor and Carry on Follow That Camel star gave a candid interview on Thursday's ITV show where she detailed how she had recorded a song in her late spouse Mike Margolis' memory.
Director, writer and singer Mike passed away last May, aged 84, after battling a "long illness."
He was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2015.
His passing tragically came less than a week after the couple celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.
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Anita, 82, had tears in her eyes as she talked about her new track, Never Lose Hope, recorded in aid of the Alzheimer's Society and in tribute to Mike.
Yet the Midsomer Norton-born actress was gracious to put her own heartbreak aside as she addressed Kate's experience, following the death of her husband Derek Draper in January.
Former political lobbyist and dad of two Derek died aged 56 following a heart attack, after his health was devastated by Covid.
Anita sat alongside Kate, 57, on the Good Morning Britain sofa and held her hand for support as she said: "I can't tell you how precious this is to see you.
"After having see you going through everything."
Kate let out an: "Ohhhh," before Anita continued: "Darling Ed, you are wonderful for all the viewers."
Turning again to Kate, Anita paused before she said: "But for me, I was a bit parallel with you darling."
Kate looked touched as she said: "Yes," before exclaiming: "We are not going to cry! We are not going to cry are we.
"Because we want hope."
Later in the show, as the interview wrapped, Anita again turned to Kate and heartwarmingly said: "Sending everything good for you and your young ones."
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Anita later told how "singing to me is life" and how recording the track had been a "comforting" way to help process her grief.
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She told how she had worked through both Mike's cancer diagnosis and the early stages of his Alzheimers.
She said: "If anything comes from. you and I [referring to Kate] talking about these things, it's the sharing.
"And so many people going through different challenges and if we share, it's out loud.
"It's not something to be kept secret."
SAD PASSING
Mike previously worked as Anita's manager.
A statement released on his death last year read: "Early this morning Anita’s husband Mike Margolis died peacefully with Anita by his side.
"As a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (LFRSA), creator of Catgrafıika and as creative director in advertising, Mike became Anita’s record producer (Just Loving You) and her manager in the mid-1960s.
"They married in 1973 and last Sunday celebrated their Golden Wedding."
On X, formerly Twitter, Anita added at the time: "Last Sunday we gently celebrated our golden wedding anniversary.
"Mike gifted me with a forever love…I will miss and love him always."
TRAGIC BATTLE
Kate's spouse Derek died on January 3 from complications of long Covid.
He was one of the UK's longest suffering patients of Covid.
After his diagnosis he battled a variety of health problems when the virus caused brain inflammation, kidney failure, and damage to his liver and pancreas.
Kate paid her last respects at Derek's funeral in February, during which she made a touching tribute to her late spouse.
Meanwhile, telly fans branded her "so strong" as she made her ITV show comeback.
She previously told GMB how being referred to as a "widow" for the first time "took my breath away."
Smooth FM anchor Kate has also opened up on the financial costs of caring for her late husband, after trying to withdraw cash from her pension early to pay off the crippling debt.
