GMTV's Kate sends fans bananas

Some celebrity fans demand signed photos from their idols while others lust after intimate items of clothing.

But admirers of GMTV breakfast show presenter Kate Garraway prefer something a little more nourishing.

Two fans have paid almost £5,000 for two bananas she chewed.

Her first banana was offered on Internet site eBay, after she and copresenter Ben Shepherd interviewed eBay expert Gail Wall.

Acting on a suggestion from Shepherd, she asked viewers: 'Does anyone want a banana that's had my lips round it? I cannot imagine it, but hey.'

After 30,000 bids, the banana went to online insurance broker Screentrade for £1,650.

'We thought it might generate a bit more fun around the office,' said Jaime Falarczyk, of the South Wales-based firm's communications team. Garraway-35, repeated the performance at a ball thrown by Anthea Turner and husband Grant Bovey last Saturday.

This time, the banana was snapped up for £3,000 by Grant Penfield, boss of a printing inks company.

The sale was part of an auction presided over by Chris Tarrant which raised £200,000.

Mr Penfield, 45, from Poole, Dorset, said: 'It was completely spontaneous.

'Chris asked Kate if she'd repeat her banana trick, which was all tastefully done. I got quite excited by the idea and agreed to pay £3,000.

'I've thrown the banana away now, though - they don't tend to keep very well, do they?

'It's amazing the things you do, then wake up the next morning saying, "What was I thinking?"'

Garraway, who has several Internet fansites devoted to her, said of the sales: 'It's brilliant, if not a little weird.' The money she raised went to the NSPCC.