Kate Garraway on debt, the care system and why working ‘really helps’ her grief
WORDS: ARIANA LONGSON. PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, ITV, INSTAGRAM @KATEGARRAWAY
She may be back at work presenting Good Morning Britain, and recently released her third documentary, Derek’s Story, but three months after losing husband Derek Draper, the challenges are far from over for Kate Garraway.
Now, the star, who has previously revealed things have been ‘tough financially’ and admitted that she fears the ‘money will run out’, faces up to £800,000 worth of debt, all while adjusting to life without Derek and being a single mum and a grieving widow.
But despite her ongoing troubles, brave Kate, 56, is determined to continue being a voice for carers, insisting, ‘I can’t just abandon this because Derek no longer needs it.’ She explained, ‘It’s difficult [but] I try to remove my personal grief because I think this is a really important thing we have to tackle.’
Money troubles
On top of working and being a mum to her and Derek’s two children, Darcey, 18, and Billy, 15, Kate also tried to care for Derek alone following one hospital stay. His condition required around the clock care, often meaning no sleep for her, so after 10 days and subsequently fearing for her own health, Kate was forced to seek professional help. The cost? £4,000 a week, more than her ITV salary would allow. ‘How can I afford that? How can anybody afford £16,000 a month?’ she said. ‘I can’t earn enough money to cover my debt. I have an incredible job that I love and it’s well paid. But it’s not enough.’
The presenter – whose financial hardship was only added to when Derek’s business failed
due to him being unable to work – estimates she’s racked up debts of £500,000-
£800,000 caring for her husband. Unable to fork out the huge sum, Kate admitted, ‘I
am ashamed at the fact I am in debt. I’m not going to pretend that I am poorly paid.’
She added, ‘If this is what it’s like for me, what on earth is it like for everybody
else?’
But thankfully, she hasn’t been chased for payment yet. Kate said, ‘To be fair to them, no one’s contacted me since he’s passed away to ask for that.’ She added, ‘They may well still do, but they haven’t as yet. The bigger picture of the further appeals I haven’t addressed yet, because I’m still in survival mode.’ Perhaps the most shocking part of all this is that despite being critically ill, the former political adviser was deemed well enough to not require funded car
