Here’s what the stars have been up to in the last seven days
WORDS: ARIANA LONGSON, ROBYN MORRIS.
KATE ‘Life has to start’
Following the funeral of her husband Derek Draper, Kate Garraway is now facing the next difficult chapter of her life – balancing family and work. Less than a week after the funeral, Kate returned to her hosting duties on GMB after telling viewers, ‘I am looking forward to coming into the world and connecting with everyone again. Thank you for having me back but have a little patience, I might be a bit rusty.’ And referencing how quickly she’s returned to work, the presenter added, ‘Life has to start. We have to pick ourselves up and go on. That’s what Derek would want me to do.’
Derek passed away last month after fighting complications from COVID-19 for nearly four years. And Kate, who previously revealed her fears that the ‘money will run out’ amid Derek’s health battle, is thought to have been ‘wiped out financially’ by the costs of his care and adapting their £4 million north London home for his needs. So while her heartache is still raw, finances will likely be playing on her mind too. A friend said, ‘Not only has she had to watch her beloved husband suffer for almost four years but her financial worries have never been far away from her thoughts.’
Kate’s heartbreak was clear to see at Derek’s funeral, as she was pictured looking tearful her children, Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14.
Let’s hope being back with her GMB family brings her some joy.
BALLROOM BOND
Strictly winners Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola revealed they’d got matching tattoos to symbolise their ‘bond’. Former Corrie star Ellie, 22, explained, ‘We said if we made it to the final we would get a tattoo.’ While pro dancer Vito, 31, added, ‘We decided to do a bee with the body of an aubergine because that is a symbol of our bond.’
Previously the pair, who are taking part in the Strictly live tour, were rumoured to be in a romantic relationship but in recent weeks speculation that Ellie and fellow Strictly contestant Bobby Brazier, 20, are an item has been rife.
A source said, ‘Bobby and Ellie are the talk of the tour… their friendship has grown and grown, and they’ve been spending nearly all their free time together.’
ROBBIE’S FORTUNE REVEALED!
