Good Morning Britain's Kate Garraway reveals 'backlash' over Derek Draper documentary

Virgin Radio

5 Sep 2024, 14:27

Kate Garraway has opened up about the negative reaction she received following the documentary on her beloved late husband Derek Draper. The Good Morning Britain host has spoken out about the 'backlash' and how people told her to 'stop going on' about it.

Talking about Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story, she explained on GMB last week that the ITV programme has been nominated for a National Television Award.

The broadcaster confirmed the news while talking to fellow NTA-nominee Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis. Kate's co-host Ed Balls announced: "I'm just going to say, Kate Garraway for her fabulous documentary Derek's Story is also nominated for an NTA."

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Kate explained: "I haven't posted I've been nominated yet because I got so much backlash from doing it, for people saying 'stop going on about it'. But actually, I realise I'm letting people down."

She told The Mirror: "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.

"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."

The political lobbyist sadly passed away in January aged 56 after living with complications of coronavirus since March 2020. He became one of the UK's longest-suffering COVID patients after spending 13 months in hospital.

Kate explained: "I really hope people vote for it as well - it's a different category from you Martin, so no competition there."

She added: "I got such a lot of backlash for doing it [the documentary] from people going 'stop going on about this.'

"But actually I realised I am letting people down for not mentioning it."

The presenter spoke about how a fan's plea has spurred her on. He told her: "Please make sure people vote, because it helps us all."

In the documentary, Kate confessed: "Derek's care costs more than my salary from ITV and that's before you pay for a mortgage or household bills or anything for the kids - so that is a crunch point.

"We are in debt and I can't earn enough money to cover my debt because I'm managing Derek's care.

"I can't even use the money I do have to support Derek's recovery because it's going to the basics all the time. I'm not going to pretend I'm poorly paid but it's not enough.

"Time and time again the state tells us Derek is not sick enough to qualify for state funded care.

"I've appealed but that still hasn't been processed three years later. If this is what's it like for me then what's it like for everybody else?"

Kate Garraway: Derek's Story is available to watch on ITV1, ITVX and STV.