Kate Garraway will return to work for an emotional interview on Good Morning Britain on Monday, just three days after her beloved husband Derek Draper’s funeral.
The GMB presenter, 56, will give a live interview on the show from his home before joining co-host Ben Shepherd later this week.
A heartbroken mother who lost her husband last month at the age of 56 after a devastating battle with coronavirus has told friends she wants to stay busy and focus on work as she continues to grieve.
A source told The Sun newspaper: “Kate has had an incredibly difficult few months over the past few months and it has taken a toll both mentally and physically.”
“But she’s a hard worker. Live TV journalism is in her blood. It’s what she knows and loves.”
Kate Garraway to return to TV tomorrow, just three days after husband’s funeral
Derek Draper, wife Kate, and children Darcey and Billy return home from hospital where they were Britain’s longest-suffering coronavirus patient in 2021
Kate and her family attend the funeral of her husband who passed away at the age of 56.Kate wore her husband’s watch “so that I could carry some memory of her husband with me”
Duchess Kate and her children left St Mary’s Church in Primrose Hill hand in hand this week after a service described as an “incredible send-off for a wonderful man”.
She last appeared on GMB on December 8, and although she is tentatively set to return to television full-time, ITV has given her full support and will allow her to take time off when she needs to. He said he could.
The source added, “Kate’s health is everyone’s biggest concern.”
She added: “It’s not a decision she made lightly, but she is absolutely thrilled to be back in the studio.”
Since Derek first contracted coronavirus in March 2020, when the pandemic first hit the UK, devoted Kate has been by his side through every step of his illness.
The mother and TV presenter revealed that she held Derek’s hand as he breathed his last on Friday, January 3 this year.
Duchess Kate paid a loving eulogy at her late husband’s “heartbreaking” funeral this week, with Sir Elton John leading the congregation in song after Prime Minister Tony Blair’s eulogy. Made me cry.
Duchess Kate wore her husband’s watch at St. Mary’s Church in Primrose Hill, where the couple married 18 years ago, “so that I could carry some memory of him with me on the day.”
Kate was with her two “brave” children. Darcy, 17, helped carry her father’s coffin to the altar, and her son William, 13, known to friends and family as Billy, held his mother’s hand the entire time. The children left notes on the coffin’s wreath saying, “We love you with all our hearts,” and “We love you, Dad.”
Garraway held the hands of her two children as she waited for the coffin to arrive outside the church, which was packed with some of Britain’s most prominent people.
The Good Morning Britain presenter’s daughter Darcey helped carry her father’s coffin to St. Mary’s Church in Primrose Hill, where her parents were married in 2005.
The GMB presenter held his son William’s hand tightly and looked up at the sky for a moment as he followed the coffin.
Garraway, 56, wearing a long black coat and pearl necklace, entered the church and greeted guests before Draper was buried, followed by his family.
A source close to the Duchess said: “Kate wore Derek’s watch so she could carry a little piece of him with her that day and of course everyone was very kind to her.” Simply put, her outpouring of public support has kept her going. It was a heartbreaking day for her, but a wonderful send-off to a wonderful man. ”
The funeral took place on Candlemas Day, so the congregation left with candles and Sir Elton played Skyline Pigeon (the B-side of his 1972 hit Daniel) “in honor of Derek”. During this time, candles were lit inside the church.
Derek, 56, was said to be in critical condition after suffering health problems after contracting the coronavirus in 2020.
Kate leaves the funeral holding her son William’s hand after the funeral.
Derek Draper’s coffin was carried from the church, with his daughter Darcy among the pallbearers (front right)
A heartbroken Kate stood next to her daughter Darcy as family, friends and colleagues bid farewell to Derek.
Its poignant lyrics include, “Release me from your hands and fly home to distant lands, over green fields and trees and mountains, along the skyway path.” It is.
The service order also paid tribute to the singer, who called Derek a “dear friend” and “supported them from day one” after he contracted COVID-19 at the start of the 2020 pandemic. But there was. Guest of honor at last year’s live show.
There was also a speech from his friend Sir Tony Blair, and the congregation, which also included David Furnish, Sir Keir Starmer and past and present Good Morning Britain hosts, sang the hymn ‘Lord of the Dance’. ” and “The Lord is my Shepherd.”
Sir Elton arrived at a packed North London church with husband David Furnish shortly after Myleene Klass. Sir Tony Blair and Sir Keir Starmer were among the political luminaries. Derek Draper worked at New Labour for many years, including his former boss Peter Mandelson.
Duchess Kate’s former and current Good Morning Britain colleagues also came out in full force to support her on the tragic day. with ben shepherd Susanna Reid One of them was the first to arrive, followed by Piers Morgan and Charlotte Hawkins. Fiona Phillips has appeared in public with her ITV executive husband Martin Frizell for the first time since being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Journalist Robert Peston, talent manager Jonathan Shalit, former GMTV political editor and former Labor MP Gloria De Piero and former Sky News political editor Adam Boulton also headed to church.
A heartbreaking video shared by friend Mylene Klass on Friday showed Kate dancing with her late husband Derek Draper.
Derek was the first person in the UK to become seriously ill with coronavirus and was admitted to intensive care as the country went into lockdown in March 2020.
After attending the lobbyist’s funeral, Mylène remembered her friend when she saw a video of him and his wife Kate dancing together.
“Until we dance together again.” Rest in peace, Derek Draper. Your wife and children were proud of you, ”the singer wrote.
A short video showed Elton John’s song ‘Skyline Pigeon’ playing as Kate, wearing a sequined dress, was pulled towards Derek on the dance floor.
Mr Draper was the first person in the UK to become seriously ill with coronavirus and was admitted to intensive care as the country went into lockdown in March 2020.
He was one of the country’s longest-suffering coronavirus patients after being hospitalized, but the virus left long-term damage to his organs and he never fully recovered, requiring 24-hour care.
Derek has rarely attended public events in recent years.
However, he suffered a heart attack just before Christmas and never recovered. Kate revealed that Derek died at the age of 56 on January 3 after suffering long-term symptoms from coronavirus, holding her hand “throughout his last long hours and as he passed away”.
The Good Morning Britain star, 56, announced the death of her husband of 18 years on Instagram, writing: “Rest in peace my dear Derek, I am so lucky to have you in my life. I did,” he said.
Derek suffered a heart attack just before Christmas after a long battle with coronavirus.
Duchess Kate, who has two children with Derek, Darcy, 17, and her youngest son Billy, 11, said: “I am saddened to have to announce to everyone that my beloved husband Derek has passed away.” he said.
“Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days, and I was by his side holding his hand during his final long hours and even as he passed away. There are so many things I want to say, and of course I will say them in due course. , for now I would like to thank all the medical team who fought so hard to save him and make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible.’
“As some of you may know, he suffered a cardiac arrest in early December and was subsequently in critical condition, but the damage he sustained from the coronavirus in March 2020 caused further complications. ” he added.
“Sending so much love and gratitude to everyone who has given so much support to our family. Rest in peace now, Derek, my love, we are so lucky to have you. ”
Mr Draper, a prominent figure in New Labor in the 1990s, worked for Blairite Peter Mandelson and co-founded the Progress organization with Liam Byrne, later an MP.
In 2021, Garraway won a National Television Award for her documentary Finding Derek, about her family’s experiences during the pandemic.
It detailed her husband’s treatment and subsequent return to his parents’ home.
In July 2022, Mr Garraway confirmed that Mr Draper had been readmitted to hospital, but later that month it was reported that his condition had worsened.
Mr Draper, a former lobbyist and political adviser, was part of one of Britain’s most prominent media power couples.
New Labour’s spin doctors were highly influential in the 1990s, but became best known for their involvement in the ‘Lobbygate’ scandal.
Mr Draper, a former research associate of Brightright Peter Mandelson, became a director of lobbying firm GPC Market Access in 1996 and co-founded the new Labor group Progress with later MP Liam Byrne. Established.
It was while working at GPC that Draper was caught on tape boasting about his government connections to an undercover journalist.
In one of the first sordid scandals to hit Tony Blair’s fledgling government, Mr Blair said: “There are 17 important people in this government and I am close to all of them.” is the understatement of the century,” he reportedly claimed.
Draper insisted he did nothing wrong in the so-called “cash for access” scandal known as “Lobbygate,” but admitted he did have a “big mouth.”
The incident seemed to put an end to larger political ambitions for the famously champagne-drinking New Labor supporter, who moved to the United States, where he trained as a psychotherapist. .
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