Kate Garraway returns to GMB after terrifying meningitis scare

She became ill backstage at GMB two weeks ago

On Thursday’s show, the presenter told her co-stars Susanna Reid, Ben Shephard and Richard Arnold that she was rushed to hospital from work two weeks ago after she couldn’t look at the studio lights and “had a temperature over 40”.

She explained: “I came in Friday before last and I couldn’t look at the lights and I had a temperature over 40.

“I said, ‘I’ll be fine’ but the director said, ‘Even you can’t make this funny Kate, there is no way you can do the show, we can’t turn the lights off.’

“Actually I went straight to the hospital. They were thinking meningitis, fortunately it wasn’t, and it was all fine and they sorted me out.”

Kate, 51, added: “Can I just say The Wittington Hospital, can I tell you how brilliant they were, they saw me straight away and got me on a drip and sorted in minutes.”

Kate also said that she was supposed to be hosting an event, The North London Health Star Awards, at The Wittington Hospital that night.

Revealing what the doctor said, Kate revealed: “‘Maybe we can just wheel you from the ward?’

“But then he looked at my notes and said, ‘No you are way too ill.’”

As Kate revealed she had overslept this morning and was late to the show, showbiz correspondent Richard joked: “Off sick, or has she been sucking the alcohol out of a deodorant stick again?”