Bella (UK)

Kate Garraway: ‘I don’t know if it’s right’

More tough decisions for Kate Garraway

-

Despite being up for a National Television Award this week, it’s been an extremely tough time for much-loved Kate Garraway. The 54-year-old presenter is nominated in the Authored Documentar­y category for her moving TV film Finding Derek, following her husband’s journey recovering from COVID. Not only will this be a highly emotional occasion for Kate, who has nearly lost Derek several times, but she also dearly wants him by her side on the night, which may prove too difficult.

Of the nomination, she said, “It’s wonderful for the production company and for Derek. I was just thinking, wouldn’t it be wonderful if Derek is well enough to come? I was trying to look at the dates and work out the logistics of how that might work. There are some brilliant people in the category, there are some brilliant documentar­ies, I don’t think for a moment we’ll win. But it would be lovely for him to be there.”

However, the reality of Derek attending is precarious, as his condition changes day to day, and the week leading up to the NTAS have proven difficult and painful. When her GMB co-host Ben Shephard asked if it was realistic for him to go, she replied, “Yesterday, it certainly wouldn’t have been right. I don’t know whether it’s right. It would just be a lovely thing for him to experience how much what he’s been through has touched people. I don’t know if it’s going to be possible, and we’re sort of taking everything a day at a time.

I think the logistics might be quite tricky. I think the organisers there certainly may weep at the thought of what we’d have to do to make that possible.”

Derek was first admitted to hospital in March 2020, when he was put into an induced coma. While he returned home in April this year, he still requires roundthe-clock care, and his health battle is far from over. Kate has previously been told, “If he is still like this after two years, we will know there is very little chance of him making any meaningful recovery.” After such a difficult 18 months, Kate got the chance to relax on holiday in August, which would have no doubt been a welcome break. But it was a hard decision to go without Derek, and she and their children – Darcey, 15, and Billy, 11 – wrestled with mixed feelings. Speaking on Good Morning Britain just before she left, she said, “I had a busy day yesterday writing lots of lists and everything as Derek’s family are descending to take care of Derek for a few days while I take the kids away. I had a very tight window where I could get everybody to come and look after

Derek. Obviously he has nurses as well.” She added, “Also, I could get somewhere where I could find friends to help us, as I think we are all quite emotional, the three of us, about going away without him and whether that feels a bit strange to do. It feels like a bit of a moment. My son Billy is a bit concerned. It feels strange, but we need to do it, to have a little bit of time, come back and be refreshed.”

Now that the summer holidays are over, the children will be heading back to school in new year groups. Kate had previously shared that Billy particular­ly found it difficult being at school while Derek was unwell, as she said, “It was always Derek who took him [to school]. When we got the news, he said, ‘I don’t want to go back before dad’s better because I want Dad to do it.’” But ultimately being back at school has been a welcome sense of normality for them, as she has said, “They are very excited about seeing friends at school and getting back in the swing of it.”

‘We are all quite emotional’

 ??  ?? Derek’s condition changes day to day
Derek’s condition changes day to day
 ??  ?? At the theatre with Billy and Darcey
At the theatre with Billy and Darcey
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom