Kate Garraway shared husband Derek Draper‘s feeling of being a “total failure” in the months before his death during an heartbreaking appearance on Good Morning Britain today (March 26).
The GMB presenter was on the show to talk to hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley about her new documentary, Derek’s Story, airing tonight.
Discussing the film, Kate said that the idea for the new documentary came from her late husband. She said that he “wanted his voice to be heard”.
Derek died earlier this year, following almost four years of ill health after contracting the virus at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
Kate Garraway on new documentary about husband Derek
The documentary joins Kate and Derek in May 2023. It confronts the reality of his struggles, and the effect on those around him. It also captures sweet family moments in footage that hasn’t been seen before.
It didn’t matter what we said, he felt that burden.
Speaking to Richard and Susanna this morning, Kate said that Derek endured a “complete loss of privacy” due to the constant care that he needed.
She added: “He felt like a total failure, like an incredible burden – on the carers, on the system, on us. It didn’t matter what we said, he felt that burden and he wanted to be a contributor. And I guess making this documentary was his way of saying: ‘I’m going to speak up for the people who’ve supported me. For those around me and people in the care system, administrators, who’ve tried to make it work.'”
Kate added of the care system: “Because it is broken. There’s no doubt about that.”
She then spoke of the cost of Derek’s care and the debt she is now in. However, she added: “But I’m sad, because I don’t have the chance to care any more.”
‘It’s not pathetic – you’re trying’
During tonight’s documentary, Kate consoled Derek as he endured a rough patch.
“He has been very down,” she explained to camera. “Wondering about the future, a lot of crying. ‘I’ve let everybody down and what is the meaning of life? What can I contribute?’
It’s not pathetic. You’re absolutely trying.
“The thing that helps that is having that sense of purpose, remind him these things take time – even if I don’t really know if that’s the answer.”
Later, Derek tried to stand by himself but is unable to pull himself up on a walker. He labelled himself “pathetic”.
But Kate was on hand to console him: “It’s not pathetic. You’re absolutely trying,” she told her husband.
‘I can’t walk away’
Now, Kate has vowed to continue her fight to improve the care system.
Apologising for getting emotional, she admitted trying to put her personal grief aside and told Richard and Susanna: “I can’t walk away from something that I have campaigned for. I’ve had over 8,000 letters from people telling me not to give up.”
Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story airs tonight (March 26) on ITV1 at 9pm.
Read more: Kate Garraway’s friends ‘concerned about burnout’ after Derek’s death
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