Kate Garraway has candidly shared her emotions surrounding her latest documentary centered on her late husband, Derek Draper, revealing that the process has been “pretty emotional” for her.
During her co-hosting stint on Good Morning Britain (GMB), the 56-year-old presenter discussed the upcoming special with Ed Balls, expressing disbelief that Derek, who passed away in January, wouldn’t be able to witness his own story unfold.
Reflecting on her involvement in the project, Garraway remarked on the ITV morning show, “It’s been pretty emotional actually. Makes you want to jump in the screen and give him a hug.” She continued to delve into the documentary’s significance, emphasising its potential to provide support to others navigating similar challenges. She shared, “You can’t quite believe that he’s not with us to watch his story. But, hopefully, it will be very useful for others who are going through the same thing. That’s the dream and the wish.”
GMB viewers were treated to a sneak peek of the documentary earlier in the week, featuring a clip of Derek speaking. Responding to this poignant moment, Ed Balls commended Garraway, acknowledging the emotional impact of hearing Derek’s voice. He noted, “It was very moving to hear him speak in [that] clip.” Balls also remarked on Derek’s enduring essence despite his health struggles, stating, “At the same time, there’s a fragility but also it is absolutely the Derek I’ve known for 30 years.”
Garraway echoed this sentiment, expressing relief at hearing Derek’s voice and affirming his resilience throughout his illness. She reflected, “You’re right, there’s fragility, vulnerability, obviously deep ill-health and damage, but yeah he was his own man until the end.”
Additionally, Garraway revealed that the decision to create the documentary was driven by Derek himself, highlighting his desire to share his story and offer insight into long-term illness. She emphasised, “It was his idea to make this and his story, so hopefully as I say, when it’s aired next Tuesday, it will bring a lot of help to a lot of people who are in the situation Derek’s in with long-term illness and those around them that care for them and the professional carers as well.”
The documentary is expected to explore Derek’s life, his political career, his relationship with Garraway, and his health struggles during the Covid pandemic. Garraway’s commitment to sharing Derek’s story underscores the importance of raising awareness and providing support to those facing similar challenges.
