Kate Garraway's fresh heartache as she has 'no idea' if her husband is responsive in coma

Kate Garraway faces fresh heartache as it's revealed she has no idea whether her husband, Derek Draper, is responsive during their nightly calls in intensive care.

52-year-old Derek was hospitalised with coronavirus back in March and has been in a coma in intensive care since the end of April.

And now Kate's Good Morning Britain co-host and good friend, Ben Shepherd, has given a heartbreaking update about the amount of contact she's having with her husband.

"Staff are taking a phone in the evenings and she can talk to her husband," he explained.

But in a sad twist of fate, it's unclear whether Derek understands that it's her on the other end of the phone. "She has no idea if he is responding, but she hopes that he is. It's a source of comfort."

Earlier this week Kate celebrated her birthday without Derek for the first time in 16 years, which understandably she described as "tough".

Taking to Instagram to thank fans for their well wishes on her 53rd birthday, she wrote, "So yesterday was always going to be a tough one - 1st birthday in 16 years without Derek - so for the kids & I, his absence was very present.

"But we resolved to do what I think we are all having to do at the moment aren’t we - treasure & be grateful for the love around us - however distanced we are from it. And focus on the joy of life & love in the moment - the small things that are huge & really should be at the core of everyday, but usually the everyday gets in the way."

The TV star also took the opportunity to thank the NHS staff "battling" to get Derek to a point of recovery as he continues to fight the deadly virus. "But most of all thank you to the NHS teams keeping derek still with us e& battling everyday to inch him toward recovery.#hope #positivethinking #standtogether," she added.

Derek's condition is thought to be "deeply critical," but the family continue to have "hope" as he is "still here".

It comes just months after the pair – who have been married since 2005 – revealed plans to renew their wedding vows following Kate’s hugely successful stint in the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! jungle.

Now the main priority is Derek’s health. “We’d planned the wedding for the end of summer, but I don’t suppose we’ll be booking anything now because we don’t really know what we can do,” she told Fabulous magazine.

“The wedding is something wonderful to look forward to when this is all over. That’s what we’re trying to do – think of all the good things.”