Lorraine Kelly has admitted her family is still struggling to come to terms with the death of her father, making a rare and emotional confession about her grief.
The ITV presenter, 66, revealed she became tearful when she received the first copies of her latest novel, The Island Secret, after seeing the dedication she had written to her late dad.
"He died in January, when I was giving the story a last tinker and polish, so he never got to read it," Ms Kelly told Radio Times.
"It was a tough January, and we're not over it; we're just trying to remember the good of his life, and not focus on the end of it."
Lorraine Kelly dedicated her latest novel to her father after his death in January
| ITV Lorraine KellyThe Scottish broadcaster explained that the loss had been incredibly difficult for her family but said it had also brought them closer together.
"It's difficult, but it's made us stronger as a family," she added.
Ms Kelly said dedicating the book to her father had been especially meaningful because both of her parents had nurtured her love of reading from a young age.
"It was very special being able to dedicate the book to him, because it was he and my mum who gave me my love of books as a child," she said.
The ITV presenter became emotional while discussing her late dad
| GETTY"They always read to me when I was wee, and I always read to my daughter, and now I'm reading to Billie – the same books I used to read to her mum."
The television star is preparing to release her second novel, The Island Secret, which returns to the Orkney setting of her first book, The Island Swimmer.
Ms Kelly explained that she wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters from her debut novel.
"It's about the same characters, because I wasn't finished with them," she said.
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The 66-year-old said she is focusing on the happy memories of her father
| GETTY"So Evie, who came back to Orkney and has rebuilt her life after a very dramatic, traumatic episode, now thinks everything's toddling along nicely – until someone from the past comes back and things become difficult."
The emotional admission comes just months after ITV announced significant changes to Ms Kelly's daytime programme Lorraine.
The broadcaster confirmed the show would be reduced from 52 weeks a year to 30 as part of wider scheduling changes, a decision Kelly admitted was initially "a bit of a shock".
However, the presenter insisted she has embraced the extra time away from screens.
"Actually, it's worked out really well," she said.
"I'm still there, doing what I love, but it's opened up a whole new world."
Ms Kelly said she now spends more time with her two-year-old granddaughter Billie, whom she affectionately describes as "human sunshine".
The grandmother revealed the youngster has become "the centre of our universe", admitting she finally understands what fellow presenter Vanessa Feltz meant when she told her grandchildren change your life.
John Kelly was allegedly found injured on an icy path in East Kilbride and was pronounced dead at the scene | Lorraine Kelly"And I've got so much more time and patience now," Ms Kelly said.
"I don't mind sitting for an hour reading stories or looking at a plant for ten minutes, or just watching a bee."
Despite her family's recent heartbreak, the ITV presenter said she is focusing on cherishing happy memories of her father as she embarks on a new chapter away from the pressures of daily television.