Kate’s pal Myles: “Kate and Derek are so close – she’s been amazing”
After going ‘through hell’ as her husband Derek Draper continues his hospital battle since being struck down with COVID-19, Closer talks to Kate Garraway’s friend Myles Stephenson about how the presenter has coped
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the lives of millions over the past nine months, but very few have been as devastatingly affected as TV presenter Kate Garraway, whose husband Derek Draper has been fighting for his life since catching the virus in March last year, making him the country’s longest battling COVID patient.
Derek, 53, was rushed to hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, and put into intensive care four days later where he has remained – with doctors unsure as to when and if he’ll ever recover. Kate, also 53, has spoken about how she and her young family’s lives have been turned upside down.
AGONY
She emotionally opened up about her agony at not being with Derek on his birthday or their 15th wedding anniversary, and revealed in June that doctors had told her his case of coronavirus was “the worst doctors had ever seen”.
Despite her hellish ordeal, Kate has been a pillar of strength throughout, returning to work at Good Morning Britain in August, thanking the NHS for their tireless work and calling for people to take the restrictions seriously.
Earlier this month she revealed that their two children – Darcey, 14, and Billy, 11 – had visited their dad in hospital for the first time since March, saying, “It was very heightened with emotion because he’s very changed… it was one of those moments, it was so wonderful but it sort of amplified how sad everything was.”
DEVASTATING
With the UK under another strict lockdown, visitors are once again often prevented from seeing loved ones in hospital – meaning it’s unclear when Kate will next see her husband.
Speaking exclusively to Closer, Kate’s close friend Myles Stephenson – who she bonded with when they appeared on I’m A Celeb! in 2019 – says he’s devastated for her.
Rak-Su singer Myles, 29, reveals, “What’s amazing about Kate is that she’s so warm, caring, genuine and strong. It’s devastating what’s happened in the past nine months – especially given the fact that Kate and Derek, and their whole family, are such a close-knit unit.
“But Kate has been so resilient through it all, and has just focused on her kids, her work and getting Derek better. She’s always keeping her head up and puts on such a brave face.”
Myles first met Derek and Kate’s children when he’d been voted out of the jungle, where his flirty banter with the GMB star had charmed viewers.
He was taken to the Versace hotel in Australia – where many of the campmates’ families had been staying – and says that he was welcomed with open arms from the moment he met the family.
He recalls, “I was walking down to the pool in the hotel, and I saw Derek and the kids coming towards me. Derek said, ‘Look kids, it’s Mummy’s other husband’ – referring to the fact that Kate and I had been so close in the jungle. He joked, ‘But he’s definitely got a better body!’ We all spent time together for the rest of the week . Derek and Kate got on really well with my dad and stepdad.
“Kate and Derek are so close – they are just completely on the same wavelength, in terms of how intelligent and how hilarious they are. They’re a great team. The kids are amazing too. It will have been so hard for them to see him.”
Since Derek was hospitalised, Myles says he has been there for Kate when she’s needed support and has acted as a “big brother” figure to Darcey and Billy.
“I’ve spoken to her on and off throughout,” he says. “She’s been so strong – she was always going to be. I’ve chatted to the kids too, and Billy and I do online gaming together.
I guess it’s good to take their minds off it all. I’m not doing it to go out of my way, though, it’s something I’d probably have done anyway. She’s got a great support network around her – I know the GMB team have been amazing.
PRAYING
“Kate’s kept so busy with her job, and with home-schooling the kids – but that wouldn’t be a problem for her, she’s so clever. It’s all a good distraction from it all and she’s very hands-on. Plus she’s been learning all about what Derek’s going through so she can understand it.”
Myles adds that they’re all praying for Derek’s full recovery – and that if anything positive can be taken from it all, it’s the awareness Kate has raised.
“Kate was always a national treasure – but now people have seen just how brilliant she is,” he says. “And she’s been a positive force in the face of
the pandemic. I think a lot of people didn’t realise how serious it was, but we’ve seen first-hand how it’s affected a famous face from our TV screens and it’s hit home.
“The main hope is for Derek to recover and come home. Kate deserves the weight to be lifted off her and the kids’ shoulders now and for them to have some happiness in their lives. We’re all hoping for the best.”