As they attended the NTAs together, Kate Garraway spoke movingly of how pleased her late husband, Derek Draper, would have been of their children, Darcey and Billy.
TV host Kate Garraway shed tears as she and her kids collected a National Television Award. On Wednesday night, the host of Good Morning Britain took home the authored documentary title for her very personal ITV production, Derek’s Story. The mother-of-two Kate,57, spoke movingly on how it was “bittersweet” to be honored at the first NTAs without her late husband, Derek Draper. She said to the glitzy audience, honoring her late children, “It’s very bitter to be here, with the gorgeous Darcey and Billy.” They didn’t have to say anything, I assured them. Actually, the first year of firsts is halfway over. First birthdays and Easter without Derek. Being here for the inaugural Television Awards without him
Derek passed away earlier this year at 56 years old after battling health issues following his COVID-19 infection in 2020. Speaking from the red carpet, Kate said Derek would have been “very proud of these two”, referring to Darcey and Billy, who were dressed in a glitzy gown and black tuxedo. She said they “get very shy at these things but wanted to come”.
On GMB this morning, Kate told presenters Ed Balls and Susanna Reid that it was a “very emotional” night for them. She said: “The children, when we came off stage, burst into tears, and Bill said, ‘In the end I did want to speak’. Neither of them wanted to say anything – obviously, I was very happy for them to. He said ‘I wanted to say Dad lives on in our hearts’.
“I said ‘I’m so glad you didn’t because I think that would have floored me and I wouldn’t have been able to speak’.” She added: “So personal for us. Thank you to everyone who voted. Not for me but for all the carers.”
