Kate Garraway has been filming a secret new TV project abroad after the release of her tear-jerking ‘Derek’s Story’ documentary.
Kate Garraway has been filming a secret new TV project abroad after the release of her tear-jerking ‘Derek’s Story’ documentary
The 56-year-old ‘Good Morning Britain’ co-host – who told in the show of the devastating impact of her late husband Derek’s Covid battle before his death aged 56 in January from a heart attack – took to social media after an airplane trip to reveal she was fresh from filming.
She said in a caption on her Instagram alongside a photograph of a bouquet of orchids she took while on board a flight: “Just landed back home after an amazing week filming – meeting some truly inspirational people (can reveal all in September.)”
She added about her bumpy journey: “Every flight that lands safely is a good flight by me! But this was exceptional.
“Despite storms internationally and delays the staff were calm and kind and managed to look as fresh as these flowers – even on landing.
“I am more resembling potpourri but feel great!!!”
‘Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story’ was shown in March as the final part of a trilogy of documentaries about the her late political strategist and psychotherapist husband Derek’s Draper’s battle with Covid.
At the end of September, Derek reached the grim milestone of being Britain’s longest surviving Covid patient after spending 184 days in and out of intensive care with the virus – which left him in a coma, battling sepsis and robbed of his speech.
His health fight saw Kate forced into a long break from work as she became his full-time carer once he was released from hospital – which she said left her in crippling debt of at least £800,000.
She said when she returned to presenting duties on ‘Good Morning Britain’ she felt ashamed for being “completely broke” and said her “well paid” ITV job wasn’t enough to cover the cost of being a carer.
Kate added on the show about how she had been inundated with letters from fellow carers: “I’m sad because I don’t have the chance to care any more but it felt wrong to walk away from the caring campaign I felt I have a responsibility for.
“I’ve had 8,000 letters from people saying, ‘Please don’t give up’... because we need (the care system) to change.
“If something can be done it will be a wonderful legacy for Derek.”
On her latest documentary about Derek, she said: “Derek’s care costs more than my salary from ITV and that’s before you pay for a mortgage or household bills or anything for the kids – so that is a crunch point.
“We are entirely reliant on extraordinary carers but the system they work for is incredibly complicated and underfunded.”
“Why is it people get sick and it’s no longer considered the right thing for them to be in hospital – why does coming home feel like falling off a cliff?”
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