Kate Garraway fought back tears during a poignant moment on Good Morning Britain as she opened up about her first Christmas without her late husband, Derek Draper, who passed away in January this year after a lengthy battle with Covid-19.
Derek, 56, succumbed to the virus after a harrowing four-year fight. His health struggles were widely documented, and his passing marked a painful chapter for Kate, their children, Darcey, 18, and Billy, 15. For Kate, this year’s Christmas is a particularly emotional occasion as it will be the first time in many years that they will celebrate without Derek by their side.
In the emotionally charged segment, GMB host Ranvir Singh asked Kate how she was feeling, to which the presenter responded, her voice wavering: “It’s our first Christmas without him.” Kate went on to share her reflections on the upcoming holiday, expressing that the absence of her husband was felt deeply.
“I’ve been talking to Andi Peters, who lost his mum, and he warned me that Christmas is the hardest time. I think this one will be particularly hard,” Kate admitted. “We’re lucky that I have family around me – my brother, distracting,” she added, trying to maintain composure.
Kate explained how, despite the support of her loved ones, the grief was ever-present. “You do feel grief, that’s the point. You have memories of previous years. We’re lucky enough to still have had him over the four or five years,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.
Ranvir, gently probing further, asked if Derek had been very ill last year around the same time. “Yes, he was, he was in intensive care,” Kate replied softly. She recalled the difficult period in 2022, when Derek’s health took a significant downturn. “We were going into him in intensive care. Inside my head, I did fear, this is a grim one,” Kate confessed, reflecting on the uncertainty they faced during that time. “The children, they were hopeful, and he had many times,” she added, poignantly describing the ups and downs of Derek’s health.
Acknowledging the universal nature of grief, Kate shared that the pain of loss was amplified during significant moments like Christmas, where old traditions and cherished memories make the absence of a loved one even more poignant. “Anyone experiencing grief, it does hit you when you feel something which is full of tradition, where you have memories, it comes back,” she explained, her thoughts turning to others who might be going through similar struggles. “I’m thinking about everybody else that’s feeling it,” she added thoughtfully.
As the conversation turned towards New Year, Kate explained that she likely wouldn’t celebrate in the traditional sense. “I probably won’t celebrate New Year, but I’ll pay our respects to Derek by going to his grave,” she revealed. Derek passed away on January 3, 2024, and Kate explained that this time of year would be filled with mixed emotions as she continues to navigate life without him.
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Tributes and messages of support flooded social media, with many expressing their condolences for Kate, Darcey, and Billy. One person wrote, “Take care Kate,” while another added, “Sending love to Kate & her family xx.” A third message read, “Wishing you and your family the best Kate,” showing the warmth and compassion from the public in response to Kate’s heart-wrenching situation.
Derek’s battle with Covid began in March 2020, during the height of the pandemic lockdown. After being rushed to hospital, he was placed into a medically induced coma in April 2020. He woke from the coma six months later, but his recovery was a long and difficult process. In April 2021, Derek returned home but required full-time care, with his health continuing to decline. In 2022, Derek contracted sepsis and was hospitalised once again, and in December of that year, he suffered a heart attack. His health struggles were documented in several ITV documentaries, including Kate Garraway: Finding Derek, Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek, and Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story.
Despite the personal heartache, Kate has been resilient, continuing to work and engage in public events. Last Saturday, she attended Piers Morgan’s Christmas party, dressed in a glamorous gown, marking a moment of festive cheer amidst the emotional turmoil. While the festive season remains a time of reflection for Kate, her strength in the face of such profound loss continues to resonate with her supporters, who are sending their love and solidarity during this incredibly difficult time.
