Kate Garraway lost her husband Derek Draper in January, following his long battle with Covid and its after-effects.
Tonight (March 26), Kate returns to our screens with a new documentary, Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story.
However, friends of the TV star are reportedly concerned for Kate’s unrelenting work ethic as she navigates grieving her partner. Read on for everything Kate has said about grieving her beloved husband Derek.
Kate Garraway on grieving her husband Derek Draper
A source recently told Bella Magazine about Kate’s friends’ concern. They claimed: “Kate has sworn that juggling both Good Morning Britain and her radio show has been a lifeline, offering a glimmer of hope and distraction as she continues to deal with the unimaginable grief of losing your partner.
Some of her friends are concerned that she needs to take a break.
“However, some of her friends are concerned that she needs to take a break.”
Kate initially announced Derek’s death on Instagram, in a heartwrenching tribute. She said: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.
“As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.
“Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.
“I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible.
“Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.”
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Kate Garraway sends message to GMB viewers after death of husband Derek
Kate shared a heartfelt message with GMB viewers shortly after the loss of Derek, which Susanna Reid relayed on her behalf. She said that grief was “isolating”.
The host thanked her fans for their support, stating: “They are an extraordinary comfort and I am so lucky to feel connected to you all through these messages at this time when the raw pain of grief can be so isolating.”
She went on to gush: “I am certain that it is the support that you have given me and sent to Derek that has sustained us through these tough nearly four years, motivating us to fight on for each other, and for those that can’t fight for themselves, and it will sustain us to continue that fight in the weeks and months and years to come.
“I look forward to waking up with you very soon again on Good Morning Britain to celebrate life in all its wonder and challenge again.”
Kate on being in ‘bubble of grief’
Ben Shephard appeared on GMB just days after Derek’s death and as a close friend of Kate, relayed his most recent discussion with her, where Kate touched on suffering through grief.
He explained: “It is the first time I have been on since sadly we heard of Derek’s passing last Friday. I just thought it would be alright to, firstly, on Kate’s behalf, I spoke to Kate last night.
“She again reiterated what she said on Monday which is a huge, huge thank you to everybody who sent her and her family a message.”
She said she is sort of in a strange bubble of her own numbness of grief at the moment.
Ben continued: “She said she is sort of in a strange bubble of her own numbness of grief at the moment. Her, Billy, and Darcey are hunkering down together.”
The presenter went on: “They are in the next stages of working out what happens. There’s a lot of admin to do when you lose someone. In that brilliant way yesterday, she said: ‘I have to go out to go and register the death.'”
Kate Garraway on caring for husband Derek
Just days after laying Derek Draper to rest, Kate opened up about her struggles as a carer for her husband.
Chatting on GMB, she said: “I think for people watching, they will know two things that are in a caring position – how unbelievably hard it is but what an honour it is too.
“And how much I wish I was caring today because it’s you know, it’s an incredible thing to be that line of defence against the world and what happens to us all in life.
I know I didn’t get it all right and I have lots of regrets of things I should have done more of.
“To be able to be that person there for somebody, it’s the ultimate honour and privilege, isn’t it? I know I didn’t get it all right and I have lots of regrets of things I should have done more of and wished I had spent less time fretting about.
“But it is a huge honour and what you do will be something that builds your life forever, it’s a gift but also you get so much for it as well.”
Derek Draper funeral
In an interview last week, ahead of the airing of Kate’s new documentary about husband Derek, Kate opened up about how she felt after the funeral.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Kate said: “I knew that what was said in the church would stay in the church, and wasn’t going to be broadcast or written up. I just trusted people not to do that.
“But the day felt like an out-of-body experience, like it wasn’t quite real. I got home from the funeral and thought, ‘I can’t wait to tell Derek about this’. And that’s the maddest thing.”
She added: “Of course I am glad he is at peace, but he never said, ‘I can’t do this any more.’ He always said, ‘How am I going to get better?’ So I knew that he would fundamentally be sad to have lost the fight. I’m just trying to take things really slowly, and sleep.”
Derek Draper death
Derek Draper died in January following a near four-year battle with the effects of Covid-19.
Kate’s documentary, Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story, will be the third documentary about Derek, following on from Finding Derek and Caring for Derek.
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Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story airs Tuesday 26th March at 9pm on ITV1, ITVX and STV.
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