Kate Garraway opens up on first Christmas without Derek with heartbreaking comment - Mirror Online
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Share Kate Garraway opens up on first Christmas without Derek with heartbreaking comment
Good Morning Britain star Kate Garraway has emotionally shared her heartache as she and her two children brace themselves for their first Christmas as a family of three
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Good Morning Britain fans will be left in tears after tuning in to listen to host Kate Garrawayon the ChristmasDay special.
Like every year, there is a pre-recorded episode of the morning staple to ensure fans will not miss out on their weekday dose.
However, the conversation is set to take an emotional turn when long-standing presenter Kate, reminds viewers that it's her first Christmas without her husband Derek Draper- who sadly died on 3rd January 2024, at the age of 56.
Kate and her two children Billy and Darcey have struggled as a family after their beloved husband and father was tragically struck down by Covid-19, with the Labour lobbyist battling the long-term effects of the illness for almost four years.
Now, bracing herself for the festive period as a single-parent, Kate has opened up to her co-stars about the grief she is now suffering.
On the programme, Susanna Reidand Kate had been discussing the unsung work of carers when the mum-of-two opened up, bravely saying: "It's very raw Susanna to be honest.
Kate opens up on first Christmas without Derek ( Image: ITV) She explained: "I mean this time last year, Derek was still alive - very sick.
We thought it was the toughest Christmas because weirdly in 2020 we had a lot of hope that he was coming out… I think that I am [still] in the early stages of grief… The pain and the feeling is still there."
Over the past four years there had been many ups and downs for Kate and her family after Derek on many occasions was found to be fighting for his life - at one point he was even placed into an induced a coma after he'd developed holes in major organs.
Kate and Derek share a fond moment at home ( Image: ITV) After a long hospital stint, in April 2021, he was finally taken off all machines and breathing apparatus and medics gave Kate and her children the news they'd been hoping for - Derek was free to return home.
Although it was good news for the family, he was far from recovered and needed to receive 24-hour round-the-clock care at their property, with their home needing to be completely refurbished and made more accessible for his return.
Kate and her family won a National Television Award ( Image: Getty Images for the NTA's) Despite Kate's best efforts, tragedy struck when her husband was readmitted to hospital in July 2022 and later that month it was reported that his condition had worsened.
His rare and chronic condition was shared in an ITVdocumentary Finding Derek, which showcased the aftermath and turmoil that his family had to endure on a daily basis while trying to adjust to new ways of living.
The emotional docu-series went on to win a National Television Award.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV from 6am.
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