GMB’s Kate Garraway admits she’s trying to shift ‘gloom’ after one year anniversary of husband Derek Draper’s passing
KATE Garraway has admitted she’s struggling to shift “a bit of gloom” after the one-year anniversary of her late husband Derek Draper’s death.
The brave Good Morning Britain anchor told viewers of the January 3 episode how it was a year to the day since the former political lobbyist passed aged 56.
As she fronted the ITV daytime series with co-host Adil Ray, 50, mum of two Kate, 57, proceeded to challenge Health Secretary Wes Streeting, 41, over Labour‘s social care reform plans – admitting she couldn’t pay the “excessive debt” of her spouse’s care bills.
Just eight days on, Kate shared a snap of the frost-filled garden at her home.
In her candid Instagram caption which accompanied it, she wrote: “Boy it’s cold out there – very beautiful though.
“Trying to shift a bit of gloom by cracking on today with lots of jobs have been putting off and soaking up the beauty of nature while I do it!”
She rounded off her strive for a postive attitude with the hashtags: “#happysaturday everyone! #vitaminnature #joy #positiveaction.”
Kate’s loyal online following were quick to offer their support and share words of wisdom, with one writing: “Even if you do 1 thing you will feel better xx”
Another put: “Beautiful pic and great advice Kate..one foot in front of the other and being kind to yourself too at this time of year is key.”
A third commented: “Being close to nature is the best tonic Kate.”
One then surmised: “It’s the only way keeping trudging forward in whatever way you can xxx”
TOUGH TIMES
Dad-of-two Derek was left fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a heart attack over the festive period in 2023.
At the time, he was already one of the UK’s longest-suffering Covid patients, after being diagnosed in March 2020.
Kate paid a touching tribute to her late spouse at his funeral in February and, just days later, made her “brave” GMB return.
The Smooth Radio host has always been candid on the financial toll Derek’s care has taken on her family.
GMB's Kate Garraway and social care reform
KATE Garraway locked horns with Health Minister Wes Streeting in a debate over social care reform on GMB. Yet what is it? And when will it happen?
Kate Garraway – who tragically lost husband Derek Draper in January 2024 – has become a staunch advocate for social care reform and the plight of unpaid carers.
Yet as Health Secretary Wes Streeting appeared on ITV daytime show GMB on January 3, 2025 – the one-year anniversary of the death of her spouse – it was revealed the crucial plans may not be delivered until 2028.
It came after ministers announced the first steps to creating a National Care Service.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting will today vow to “modernise” the industry.
He is set to launch an independent commission — to be chaired by Baroness Louise Casey — on how to set up the National Care Service.
But she will not report back until next year on issues facing social care.
A second phase — with recommendations for the longer term — is not expected until 2028.
Experts have now urged the government to accelerate the process.
Kate herself said the country cannot wait “another four years” for it to happen.
During his final months, Kate said she struggled to keep her “head above water” – having racked up huge debts paying for his care.
Kate recently told how she was withdrawing cash from her pension early to try to stem the crippling cost of the bills.
On a previous GMB episode, she also admitted she had looked into the same finance technique to release funds from Derek’s pension when he was still alive, in order to keep up with the fees.
At the start of the 2025, she laid bare her monetary situation when Wes was on GMB.
The anchor – whose care bill for her late spouse amounted to £800K – said: “I’m thinking about Derek. It happens to be the one year anniversary of his death today.
“A day that is only relevant to me.”
Kate then explained how two separate appeals for funding to pay for Derek’s care costs kept getting “pushed back”.
She also told of how her family had “not heard” the outcome when he went into Intensive Care prior to his death.
Kate continued: “In the meantime I am lucky, I’ve got an incredible job which pays well, but I was having to fund the situation.
“Now I’ve got excessive, unpayable debt because of it.
“And if I am in that position, what else are people going to be? People cant afford four more years of this.”
Kate’s stark point came as Labour’s plans for the long-term funding and reform of social care in England may now not be delivered until 2028.