The star returns to work following the death of husband Derek
Having faced the heartbreaking death of her husband Derek Draper, Kate Garraway has returned to work on Good Morning Britain. Speaking on the show ahead of her full return, Kate, 56, opened up about Derek’s death, after he passed away aged 56 last month. Talking of the outpouring of love she and her family had received, Kate said, “It’s been amazing. It feels like my emotions are at 110 per cent.”
Opening up to her co-presenters Richard Madeley, 67, and Susanna Reid, 53, the star recalled how she had been told her husband had only 24 hours to live after he suffered amassive heart attack in December, amonth before he died. “It was one of those ‘stop the clock’ moments, where you want the world to stop,” Kate said, adding, “I think Ihave a massive debt to so many people and not least to Derek, actually, because of his spirit and his fight to keep going.” And admitting there’s still a “long way to go” with her grief, she said, “A new life starts now. Idon’t know quite how it’s going to be, but grief isn’t containable in aday or amonth or ayear. Ithink some people say, ‘Why are you going back to work?’ Well, everybody does have to, don’t they? Life has to start.”
Derek first fell ill during March 2020, after contracting COVID. One of the UK’s longest-suffering patients, he was placed in amedically induced coma and hospitalised for ayear. The psychotherapist suffered lasting damage to his organs and was left plagued with health issues.
With Derek left needing 24/7 care, mum-of-two Kate had to juggle her presenting duties with looking after her husband of 18 years, detailing the journey in award-winning documentaries Finding Derek and Caring for Derek. Announcing his death on Instagram earlier this month, Kate shared, “I was by his side holding his hands throughout the last long hours and when he passed. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, Iwas so lucky to have you in my life.”
The TV star also opened up on GMB about the couple’s two “
