Lorraine Kelly credits her pet dog Angus with helping her through her lockdown anxiety.
The 60-year-old television presenter has opened up about her mental health struggle amid the coronavirus pandemic and admitted she felt really "overwhelmed" at the start of the health crisis, but going out for walks with her canine companion has been a real "stress-buster".
Lorraine told the September issue of Good Housekeeping magazine – of which she is the cover star – that: "When we first went into lockdown, I had real anxiety and felt quite overwhelmed by it all. Back then, the news channels were on constantly, I was always looking at social media, and it was too much. So I now take a little bit of time out.
"The main thing that makes it better for me is taking Angus for a walk. He’s such a stress-buster. He comes into the room every morning before I get up, around 5am, and he sits on my bed and it just makes me feel better."
The ‘Lorraine’ host has continued to film her show in lockdown and admitted it gave her a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
And she’s been blown away by the response by viewers who have found the programme and seeing her face "reassuring".
She said: "It’s given me some purpose. I think we’ve tried to be as positive as we can in the circumstances, and focus on things that are uplifting. You want a bit of light in the darkness. It’s been lovely to receive feedback from viewers saying that it’s actually quite reassuring to
see me every day, too."
Elsewhere, Lorraine admitted she has had ‘Good Morning Britain’ co-anchor Kate Garraway on her mind an "awful lot" after her husband Derek Draper was placed in a coma after being struck down by Covid-19.
She told the publication: "My friend and colleague Kate Garraway has been so strong. She pops into my head an awful lot. Her situation is so hard on her and her kids."
Derek has since emerged from a coma earlier this month and is now coronavirus-free, but remains seriously ill in intensive care.
Read the full Lorraine Kelly interview in the September issue of Good Housekeeping, on sale the 29th July. It is available in all supermarkets and online at MagsDirect -www.magsdirect.co.uk/magazine-category/lifestyle/good-housekeeping-lifestyle