Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway lost her husband Derek Draper to Covid-related illnesses in January 2024 after nearly four years of detrimental health complications

Kate Garraway admits to making ‘major mistakes’ following death of husband Derek

Kate Garraway has opened up about the difficulties of single parenting following the death of her husband, Derek Draper. The Good Morning Britain host, 57, who shares daughter Darcey, 19, and son William, 15, admitted that life without her partner has been incredibly tough, describing parenting alone as the most challenging aspect of grief.

Speaking to Daily Mail Weekend Magazine, Kate shared her struggles, saying: “This is the hardest part of grieving. There are so many moments where I just think, ‘Derek, where are you?’” She reflected on how parenting had always been a shared responsibility between them, something they did instinctively without assigning strict roles.

“Now, I have to take on everything – the fun parent, the one keeping everyone on track, and the one panicking, yelling, ‘Oh my God, you’re going to fail everything!’” she admitted. “I make so many mistakes, but don’t we all? Is there really such a thing as a perfect mother?”

Derek sadly died on January 3, 2024, at the age of 56, nearly four years after battling complications from Covid-19. Following his death, Kate shared an emotional tribute, revealing that she had stayed by his side during his final moments.

Kate’s husband Derek died in January 2024(Image: ITV)

“It breaks my heart to say that my wonderful husband Derek has passed away,” she wrote in a heartfelt post. “He spent his last days surrounded by family, and I held his hand through those final hours.”

As the anniversary of his passing approached, Kate also spoke about the immense financial burden she faced while caring for Derek. During a discussion on Good Morning Britain, she revealed that the cost of his round-the-clock care left her in overwhelming debt.

Recalling the ordeal, she said: “At the time of his passing, we had two unresolved appeals for funding, but they just kept getting delayed. I’m fortunate to have a well-paying job, but even with that, I had to cover all the costs myself. Now I’m left with an unmanageable amount of debt. If I’m in this position, how are other families supposed to cope?”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who was present for the discussion, acknowledged her concerns and offered his support, telling her, “So many people watching will relate to your experience. You’re not just a familiar face on TV—people feel deeply connected to your journey.”

It comes as Kate has joined the cast of Celebrity Traitors, the BBC’s first celebrity edition of the popular reality series. The star is set to appear alongside Stephen Fry, 67, and former England rugby player Joe Marler, 34, at Ardross Castle in Scotland.

Kate is no stranger to reality TV, having previously competed in I’m A Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here! in 2019, where she finished in fourth place.