Kate Garraway gives update on family life after losing husband Derek Draper

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Kate Garraway and her family are within the “next stages” of grieving for the TV presenter’s husband Derek Draper, who died earlier this month.

The Good Morning Britain host confirmed that “my darling husband” had died after a heartbreaking battle with lengthy Covid in a press release on Instagram final Friday (5 January). A former political lobbyist, Draper was 56.

Garraway, who spent the final 4 years caring for Draper, thanked her followers for his or her unwavering help by way of what has been an extremely robust journey in a video message throughout Monday’s episode of the present.

Her co-host Ben Shephard reiterated that Garraway was past grateful for the outpouring of affection for her family as they navigated a world with out Draper – who she was married to for 18 years – on Thursday’s episode (11 January) of the present.

He additionally shared a poignant dialog between Garraway and her 17-year-old daughter Darcey about registering Draper’s demise.

Shephard stated: “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’.

“She told Darcey, ‘I’m going to have to go out the house’, and Darcey said, ‘I know this is going to be really hard but can I make one suggestion?’

“She says, ‘course you can darling’. And then Darcey said, ‘Can you take the Christmas jumper off and can you brush your hair?’” the TV host narrated.

He added: “[Garraway] said to me the clocks stopped for us just before Christmas when Derek had that heart attack and she’s just starting to come out of that.

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“We all know that Kate in the run up to Christmas wears a new Christmas jumper every day, she supports the charity. And suddenly she realises yesterday that everything has been frozen in time since then.

“So now it’s about the next part of his journey,” Shephard instructed GMB viewers.

Earlier this week, Garraway introduced she would take a go away of absence from her presenting roles, together with on GMB, after Draper’s demise.

The presenter, who hosts GMB and her personal present on Smooth Radio, plans to return to work sooner or later, based on the PA information company.

Garraway introduced that Draper, who contracted Covid-19 in the course of the early days of the pandemic, had died after turning into “critically ill” early in December final yr.

Her assertion learn: “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.”

Tony Blair, Elton John, Gordon Brown, former Labour spin physician Alastair Campbell, and Lorraine Kelly led the tributes to Draper.

Blair described the Labour adviser as a ruthless political operative and “an important part of the New Labour story”, whereas Brown remembered him as a “brilliant, creative and multitalented” man.

Shephard additionally shared a heartfelt tribute to Draper on Instagram, together with an image of Garraway kissing him on the cheek.

“On what has been the saddest of days, Kate Garraway, I’ve been reminding myself of the wonderful times and memories we have all shared together,” he wrote.

“This is how I’ll always think of Derek – bringing you so much joy, your smile says it all, the size of which is matched only by his love for you, Darcey and Bill.”

Draper is survived by Garraway, Darcey, and his son, Billy, 14.