KATE Garraway has candidly admitted she is trying to "keep my head above water" after an extremely tough few months.
The TV star this week left fans concerned after she was a no-show on Thursday's episode of Good Morning Britain.
Yet we then exclusively revealed the reason why the ITV stalwart was absent - as well as Kate's GMB return date.
Yet much-loved telly anchor Kate, 57, has now confessed she has been feeling "out of control" and overwhelmed.
She has endured a tough time off-screen of late after her husband, former political lobbyist Derek Draper, tragically died aged 56 in January, following four years of health struggles.
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Now the mum of two has given a nod to her struggles off-screen in three new Instagram posts.
Kate started her "gratitude surge" with a clip showing her celebrating her birthday at Smooth FM as well as celebrating her 10-year anniversary on the show and "record" listening figures.
A second post saw a hand-written message from her GMB co-star Susanna Reid as well as a dress from her pal Tonia Buxton, an embroidered collar with her family's initials and some flowers and goodies from her TV team to mark her recent birthday.
In her caption, Kate gushed: "Am now lying in bed feeling like the luckiest person in the world to have so many good people around me."
Meanwhile, in Kate's third message she captured herself posing by a green wheelbarrow full of veg.
In her accompanying caption, dedicated to her parents, she wrote: "To the people who were there on the 1st birthday - Mum & Dad. You know my garden is my #happyplace but have been feeling overwhelmed recently as it’s got so out of control as have just been racing around trying to keep head above water.
"So they surprised me with this wheelbarrow saying that even though our garden isn’t big 'it helps when lugging & carrying .'
"Not everyone’s first choice for a prezzie but I couldn’t be happier!!!
"Love you so much mum and dad - you always know the best way to get me out there & going forward.
"I can’t wait to get my hands dirty this weekend & get going! Have a fab one everyone!!!"
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Sad anniversary
The star had previously told of her heartbreak at her first birthday since spouse Derek's passion.
Kate marked her 57th birthday on May 4 - admitting the first celebrations without Derek were understandably tough.
Just two weeks ago she offered an insight into her private grief by saying that initially, she felt like curling up and crying.
After sharing a birthday spread of tea and cake with her loved ones, Kate took to her Instagram to put: "Well yesterday was another one of those sad firsts - my first birthday sine Derek’s passing. Woke up feeling so sad and thought well, I can either cry all day or celebrate life as he did so well.”
"And thanks to wonderful friends it worked! See you on @gmb tomorrow from 6 - happy bank holiday weekend everyone!"
Dad of two Derek was left fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a heart attack over the festive period but was already one of the UK's longest-suffering Covid patients, after being diagnosed in March 2020.
She paid a touching tribute to her late spouse at his funeral in February and, just days later, made her "brave" GMB return.
Cash woes
Kate recently told how she was withdrawing cash from her pension early to try to stem the crippling costs of the bills.
On a previous GMB episode, she also admitted she had looked into the same finance technique to release funds from Derek's pension when he was still alive, in order to again pay off the fees.
“As anyone with a loved one who is seriously ill knows, the costs go through the roof in so many ways.
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“You have to make changes to your home and it affects your ability to work.
“I had to take long periods off when Derek was first sick, and of course if affects the overall income for the family as he can no longer work.
“We had to wind up the business we had together, and also I’ve had to take on assistants so that I can focus on Derek when not on air.
“Derek was always so incredibly supportive of my work, but I didn’t realise just how much he did do in that area until he couldn’t anymore."
