Kate Garraway shocked Good Morning Britain viewers with a heartbreaking confession from Derek Draper during an interview about dementia care on Monday.
During the episode, Kate, 57, discussed her late husband Derek Draper, who died in January at age 56 from complications from Covid-19.
Joined by Ed Balls, Kate spoke candidly about Derek, the father of her two children, during an emotional chat with guests John and Nula.
The couple, who married in 2016, met while visiting their partners, who both had dementia and lived in a nursing home.
Kate started the conversation by saying that the couple met under “the saddest of circumstances,” but that it “brought something positive.”
Kate Garraway, 57, was inundated with support on Monday morning as she returned to Good Morning Britain after a two-week absence to care for her ailing father Gordon
During the episode, Kate discussed her late husband Derek Draper, who died in January at age 56 from complications from Covid-19
The couple, who married in 2016, met under the unusual circumstances of both their spouses having dementia and living in a nursing home
About her relationship with John, Nula said: “It was not expected.
‘We walked in and out of a nursing home with caregivers to see your loved one, and Bonnie [John’s late wife] happened to come in and out of James’ [Nula’s late husband] room and I got to know her.’
‘And I would take her and John downstairs for coffee and hot chocolate with Bonnie and sometimes I would help her with the washing and she would become part of the gang.
“Her room was next to James’s and I got to know her really well. She didn’t know me, she just saw me as a face coming through the door and sometimes she smiled and sometimes she didn’t.”
Nula added that she and John emailed each other for a year before they got together.
Kate shared her own experience as a caregiver, saying: ‘This is something I’ve experienced a little bit. Derek didn’t have dementia, but after COVID he felt like he was absolutely the same person, still loved just as much, but there was a change.
‘And with dementia, that doesn’t happen overnight because it happens very slowly and the person caring for him or her has to learn to love the person he or she still loves in a different way.’
Derek is survived by two children with Kate: daughter Darcey, 18, and son Billy Draper, 15.
Monday also marked Kate’s first appearance on GMB in weeks, after taking some time off to care for her ailing father Gordon
On Monday, Kate made her first appearance on GMB in weeks after taking time off to care for her ailing father.
Gordon was rushed to hospital in July, suspected of suffering a stroke and heart attack, and Kate travelled to Cornwall to care for him.
On Saturday, Kate took to Instagram to share her appreciation and thanks to Virgin Atlantic for their support during her father’s illness.
Kate had planned to throw a special party for Billy’s 15th birthday this week. But when Kate’s father was rushed to the hospital two weeks ago, she had to make some last-minute changes.
The 57-year-old is keeping her birthday plans under wraps, but did post a message on Instagram with a shout-out to Wendy from Virgin Atlantic for her support with the hashtag ‘#tea&sympathy’.
The post shows Wendy pouring Kate a cup of tea in the airport lounge, with the pair beaming as they take a selfie together.
Kate shared the photos with a touching caption, writing: ‘Thank you so much to the wonderful gang – and Wendy – for helping to give my son Bill a fantastic birthday.
‘With everything that happened to my own father, a lot had to be cancelled of course. I wanted to be with him and my mother and I was afraid that I would disappoint Bill again and that I would not be able to carry out any of our summer plans.
On Instagram on Saturday, Kate shared her appreciation and thanks to Virgin Atlantic for the help she received during her father’s illness
‘But that’s thanks to the incredible logistical brains of the Virgin team – and a flight plan that resembled a spider web!!!
‘I’ve managed to keep things going and have some fun along the way.’
The mother of two continued to express her gratitude to the team for their understanding: ‘But most of all I want to thank you very much simply because you ‘get it’ and know that the specialness of the journey is just as important as the destination.
“Your kindness made an emotional flight so special.”
In July, after not appearing in her usual spots on Good Morning Britain or Smooth Radio, Kate revealed that her father had fainted and suffered a suspected stroke or heart attack.
A source said at the time The sun: ‘It is very sad that Kate’s father fainted earlier this week while she was staying in Cornwall with her mother and brother.
‘It was extremely frightening when he was found unconscious and immediately taken to hospital.
“It appears he may have had a stroke and possibly a heart attack. Doctors are still conducting tests.”