Kate Garraway will miss a second week of Good Morning Britain as husband Derek Draper remains in hospital.
The TV presenter, 55, has been missing from the ITV breakfast show since last Wednesday and it is unclear when she is likely to return.
A representative for ITV confirmed: “Kate is taking some time off work over the next few days, and is hoping to be back to her normal presenting duties as soon as possible.”
Fellow presenters Ben Shephard and Lorraine Kelly sent their well wishes to Garraway and her family when she missed a few shows last week.
Addressing her absence during last Thursday’s show, Shephard said: “We are missing a member of the team, aren’t we?”
Charlotte Hawkins, who is stepping in for Garraway, replied: “We are, yeah. So Kate’s taken some time out to be with Derek at the moment so we are sending lots of love. Lots of you have been in touch with messages of support, so we wish him well.”
Kelly meanwhile hailed Garraway as “incredible”.
Speaking during a segment with Dr Hilar Jones on her ITV show, the Scottish presenter said: “I just wanted to say, we are obviously sending all of our love to our Kate.
“I know a lot of you have seen in the newspapers and online that Derek is back in hospital and obviously, you know, battling the effects after Covid.
“We just want to send our love to them, don’t we?”
Dr Jones added: “Absolutely, yes, it’s such a difficult situation.
“He’s going to have ongoing problems but we send all our love to Kate and the family.”
Kelly responded: “She’s amazing. Not one to complain or say ‘why me?’ or any of that. She’s incredible.”
Former political advisor Mr Draper, 54, contracted Covid in March 2020 and he is believed to be Britain’s longest-suffering Covid patient after spending 13 months in hospital.
He was finally allowed home in April 2021.
His recovery, which requires around-the-clock care and daily medication, has been documented in two ITV films, Finding Derek and its follow-up, Caring For Derek.
Earlier this month, Garraway revealed that her husband was back in hospital after suffering a “downturn”.
She added she was “keeping her fingers crossed’ that his health could improve”.
