Ben Shephard shared details of his family trip with close friend and co-host Kate Garraway as he returned to Good Morning Britain on Thursday (9 July).
The TV presenter appeared alongside colleague Ranvir Singh as he shared his support for Kate following her emotional interview on the show with Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Wednesday (8 July).
Kate discussed husband Derek Draper's condition as he remains in intensive care after contracting Covid-19 in March. Derek is now Covid-free but is still in a "minimum state of consciousness".
"It's a big step, an important step as she was talking about yesterday very honestly and openly particularly for her, for Darcey and Billy and Derek's ongoing condition," Ben said.
He then joked: "She did say brilliantly that she wants me to be rude to her. I am warming up, I am very, very prepared."
When asked by Ranvir how he feels about welcoming Kate back as they prepare to co-host the show on Monday mornings, Ben revealed that their families had shared a lovely day out a few weeks ago.
"Well, we saw Kate and the kids a few weekends ago when we could finally all get together and we spent a really lovely day in a place near us called Thames Young Mariners; it's a lake just opposite the Thames where can go on a paddleboard and Kate and Darcey and Billy and me and Sam and Jack and Annie went out and had the most fantastic day with the kids, on the paddleboard."
He added: "And it's great because it's such a big space and you can talk to each other but it's outdoors and that was so important because we could actually see each other in real life so to get her back in the studio, back here where she belongs, with us and be able to do this programme, and doing the job she is so great at… It's sort of an important moment.
"Seeing her in real life is the reality of what they are going through."
Good Morning Britain airs on weekdays on ITV.
For more information on coronavirus, visit the NHS website.
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