Exclusive: Kate Garraway on ‘hugely emotional night’ at Pride of Britain Awards without Derek Draper
Kate Garraway opened up about attending the Pride Of Britain Awards without her late husband Derek Draper.
Derek passed away in January, aged 56, after suffering four years of complications from Covid-19 of which he spent mostly in hospital. Good Morning Britain star Kate and her husband released two documentaries detailing the family’s difficult journey after he first fell sick.
On Monday night, Kate looked out of this world as she attended PoB without her husband for the first time. Many stars were at the event to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of the winners, including awe-inspiring children of courage, fundraisers, Community Hero and lifesavers.
Speaking to the Mirror on the red carpet about it, she said: “It’s always a hugely emotional night. You’re sometimes moved by the stories in a sad way but also by the courage. I’ve been lucky enough to be invited POb throughout the journey of Derek being sick and this is the first one I’ve been to with him not with us and I think there will be an extra thing as he always loved it anyway as a ceremony and a show. It’s wonderful to see how people fight on.”
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After his death, presenter Kate took some time off her job to be with her family and later returned to Good Morning Britain, where she admitted it was very difficult for her to do the documentary but she felt she owed it to others who care to try and help them get more support.
“One of the biggest frustrations was that he felt like a total failure, he felt like an incredible burden on the carers, on the system, on us and it didn’t matter what we said, he felt that burden, and he wanted to be a contributor,” she previously said. “Making this documentary [Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story] was his way of saying ‘I’m gonna speak up for the people that have supported me, the family but also those around me and the people within the care system.’”
She added: “It’s wonderful to have the chance to honour him and also honour the millions. I’m sad because I don’t have the chance to care anymore but I felt it would be wrong for me to sort of walk away from the caring campaign that I feel I have a responsibility for.”