As Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper continues to be badly affected by complications from Covid, the exhausted presenter navigates his multiple setbacks
Eve Macdonald
When the universe is throwing challenge after challenge at you, the potential impact on your health and wellbeing is huge. That’s the reality Kate Garraway is living with after she issued a worrying update about the health of her husband of 18 years, Derek Draper.
Kate and her family’s world was turned upside down in March 2020 when Derek, 56, became ill with Covid and spent more than a year in hospital, including 10 weeks on a ventilator in intensive care.
During an appearance at the Pride Of Britain Awards earlier this month, the Good Morning Britain presenter admitted, “He’s not doing great, to be honest. But the battle goes on.” Adding that Derek had “hoped to be able to attend with her”, she said she was “keeping her fingers crossed” that he would be by her side in 2024 for Pride Of Britain’s 25th anniversary.
Now, a source has exclusively told new that despite maintaining her brave front, Kate, also 56, is struggling behind the scenes with this latest setback.
“Sadly Derek’s condition means he’ll often go two steps forward but then take a big leap back. There’s no doubt about it, it’s really affecting Kate,” the source said. “She looks tired and has lost a lot of weight because of it. Her friends are really worried about her wellbeing. It’s a tough time that keeps getting tougher. Things are really taking their toll.”
Following an incredibly difficult battle with Covid in which he suffered serious complications, Derek left hospital in April 2021 – more than a year after he was first admitted. But he still needs round-the-clock-care and his frequent setbacks, including kidney failure, brain inflammation and liver damage, have meant that Kate has become one of his primary carers.
Kate, who has two children, Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14, with Derek, has been updating fans about his condition as it has unfolded.
Despite living at home, he has been rushed back to hospital on multiple occasions, including in October 2022 after he contracted sepsis. He also currently needs to be held upright by two people five times a day in order for him to bear any weight. And it was only last month that he had to battle a “nasty infection”.
Throughout this time, Kate has been presenting on ITV and Smooth Radio and
