Teary Kate Garraway speaks on Derek's last days on GMB return days after funeral
Kate Garraway was emotional as she gave a live interview on Good Morning Britain today.
The presenter appeared on the ITV breakfast show this morning where she discussed the last few weeks having lost her husband Derek Draper. Derek had been suffering from long term complications after he contracted coronavirus back in 2020. He had slowly been recovering but tragically suffered a heart attack at the end of last year, and passed away last month.
Kate took an extended leave of absence from her hosting duties on Good Morning Britain whilst Derek was ill and when he passed so she could be with her children Darcey and Billy, but she returned to the show today for an interview about her loss. Kate discussed Derek's final moments and a touching message Darcey said to her dad before he passed away.
Kate revealed Derek had seemed "the furthest" from death before he died, after progressing with Derek "in a positive place". Speaking on the show this morning, she appeared in good spirits while clearly emotional. She told the hosts: "It feels like my emotions are at 110 percent."
She added the messages from pals and viewers "made her weep" and she was grateful for the support from fans and from her ITV family. Kate told Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley: "Derek had never been in a more positive place than he was before the cardiac arrest that led to these events. It was the furthest from the spectrum of death we’ve ever been. Then it was one of those stop the clock moments. We were then told we had 24hours but it turned out that he held on for a month."
Richard 'shuts up' GMB guest who says Hancock 'deserved' being called 'd***head'
Kate Garraway made her return to Good Morning Britain today following the death of her husband Derek Draper (ITV)Kate revealed in Derek's final moments, she and her children had told him not to worry about them, with Darcey telling him "we'll be okay". Darcey told her father: "Dad if you can't do this we’ll be okay, release yourself."
Kate revealed that at the end, Derek couldn't open his eyes or speak. Alone in the room when her husband passed away, she detailed the moment she had to break the news to their children he was gone - with son Billy taking her back with his response. He told her: "I'm so sorry mum," with her telling her co-hosts that her reaction was: "Oh my God, they really have taken onboard a caring role."
After Richard asked Kate how she managed to keep it all together all the way through Derek's sickness, the mum-of-two explained: "I'm not sure I did it very well. I think I relied on everyone else. I think I have a massive debt to a lot of people - especially Derek.
"The children have also been extraordinary throughout it all. It feels like five years and also five minutes since I was in the studio." Kate revealed her daughter Darcey’s role as a pallbearer at the funeral service was her own decision, saying: "She insisted on doing it and I thought it was a beautiful thing."
Kate and her husband Derek (James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)On her children's grief, she went on: "For their grieving, we are in the foothills, we know there is a long way to go. They didn’t want to pressure him to keep going. I don’t think he did feel that, I think he kept going because he wanted to be here."
Kate is now set to return to the show later this week, confirming she would host on Thursday following her extended absence. She shared: "A new life starts now. I don’t quite know how it’s going to be, but grief isn’t containable is it? Some people say, ‘Why [are] you going back to work?’
"Well, everybody does have to, don’t they? Life has to start any minute now.” Noticing that her son Bill was late for school, Kate added: “In fact he’s late actually. Bill’s going to have to go to school - in fact, somebody better tell him to hurry up [or] I’ll be in trouble with the teachers."
On her return, she joked she was "excited for a blow dry" as she gets back to studio life. She said: "I’m going to be looking forward to a blow dry... don’t worry – I am going to be looking a lot more respectable." She went on: "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."
Kate discussed her children Darcey and Billy's final moments with their father Derek (WireImage)It isn't just viewers and ITV stars who have reached out to Kate though, with the TV star confirming King Charles was amongst those who have sent well wishes. She said: "I had the most beautiful letter from David and Victoria Beckham – handwritten, very good handwriting… that was Darcey’s observation.
"And from the royal family – Catherine and William sent a beautiful letter, and I know Catherine has been in hospital herself. Even the King, because there is somebody knows about grief, that anticipatory grief where you know something has a risk of happening and how different it is when it does happen."
Gareth Thomas' ex says 'people run for the hills' after his HIV diagnosis
When news broke last month that Derek had passed, Kate sent in a message for all the viewers, which Susanna read out on the breakfast show. Susanna was emotional as she read Kate's words, which said: "Hello everyone. Thank you so much for all the wonderful messages that you have sent me. It really does mean so much to me, Darcey, Billy and all of Derek’s family.
"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 feel so isolating. And that is the wonderful thing, isn’t it, about our Good Morning Britain family? That all of us on the team and all of you watching at home are connected, supporting each other through the challenges of life, knowing that we can also laugh at the fun and joys together that we shared too," she shared at the time.
"The support 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 Garraway was emotional on the show (ITV)She added: "I hope you forgive me for taking some time to be at home. My family is so grateful that we could be with our dearest Derek in his final moments, something not all get to share. Maybe you too are going through grief yourself or have done in the past. I send love and support to you too. We are taking time to heal ourselves now that Darcey and Billy know their Daddy is at peace and free from pain and struggle. I shall be thinking of you all until we are reunited very soon. In the meantime, hug your loved ones close."
Derek's funeral was held last week, with a number of her Good Morning Britain colleagues in attendance. Sir Elton John also attended the funeral, whilst Darcey was pictured holding the coffin in emotional photos from the funeral, which the press were invited to.
"Kate has had an incredibly rough past couple of months, and it has taken its toll mentally and physically," a source has said of Kate's plans to get back to Good Morning Britain, "But she is a workhorse, and journalism, being on live TV, runs through her blood — it’s what she knows and loves. Kate is keen to keep busy and get stuck back into work."
The source continued to tell The Sun how Kate feels it is "the perfect time" to be reunited with her Good Morning Britain colleagues and everyone that works on the ITV show has been "hugely supportive" of her too.
In early January, Kate took to social media to announce the sad passing of Derek. She wrote: "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."
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok, , , , , and .
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
