Kate Garraway claims she’s ‘not pleading poverty’ amid debt backlash

Kate Garraway has claimed she is ‘not pleading poverty’ amid the backlash over the debts she has racked up due to her late husband Derek Draper’s care costs.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 56, appeared on Tuesday night’s The One Show to chat to hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas about her documentary depicting Derek’s final days.

The political lobbyist died in January aged 56 following a long battle with Covid-19.

Kate has been incredibly open and honest about the £800,000 debt she has accumulated, for years of care provided for Derek.

But the mother-of-two stressed on the BBC show that she is not using the documentary to her advantage, but to raise awareness for all the people who have been or are in her situation.

Kate Garraway, 56,has claimed she is ‘not pleading poverty’ amid the backlash over the debts she has racked up due to her late husband Derek Draper’s care costs

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 56, appeared on Tuesday night’s The One Show to chat to hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas about her documentary depicting Derek’s final days

She said: ‘I have an incredible job and I am very well-paid, I’m not pleading poverty but that’s why I felt I had to be that honest because if I can’t afford it who can?

‘People can’t cope 24 hours a day on their own. Derek had huge medical needs, but even he wasn’t considered medically serious enough to get that support, so what on earth is like for someone one down from that? Who can’t move or communicate, I just fear for us all.’

During a mini clip from tonight’s documentary, which The One Show aired, Kate speaks with the boss of a social care organisation about the staggering costs of basic care.

Kate disclosed that the cost of Derek’s basic care, without any additional therapy on top is nearly £4,000 a week.

On the clip from the documentary, she says: ‘How can I afford that? How can anyone afford £16,000 a month? Why is it that people who get sick, why does coming home feel like falling off a cliff?’

Back in the studio she said: ‘It shouldn’t be should it. Because the skill of a carer, the skill of that type of care is just a lifesaving and as brilliant as the work of a surgeon but yet we don’t respect it. we see it as a luxury.’

Kate – who roughly owes between £500,000 to £800,000 in debt – admitted that she’s always in ‘survival mode’, following Derek’s death.

Speaking to The Times, Kate said: ‘Derek’s needs were clearly so great, yet he didn’t warrant funded care — so you think, “If he isn’t getting it, then who is?” 

The political lobbyist died in January aged 56 following a long battle with Covid-19 

Kate has been incredibly open and honest about the £800,000 debt she has accumulated , for years of care provided for Derek

But the mother-of-two stressed on the BBC show that she is not using the documentary to her advantage, but to raise awareness for all the people who have been or are in her situation

She said: ‘I have an incredible job and I am very well-paid, I’m not pleading poverty but that’s why I felt I had to be that honest because if I can’t afford it who can?’

During a mini clip from tonight’s documentary, which The One Show aired, Kate speaks with the boss of a social care organisation about the staggering costs of basic care

Kate disclosed that the cost of Derek’s basic care, without any additional therapy on top is nearly £4,000 a week

‘To be fair to them, no one’s contacted me since he’s passed away to ask for that. They may well still do, but they haven’t as yet.

‘The bigger picture of the further appeals I haven’t addressed yet, because I’m still in survival mode. It’s supposed to be a system that’s meant to catch you if you fall. But actually, it feels like it’s trying to catch you out.’ 

In the documentary, the film confronts head on the reality of Derek’s struggles and the effect on those around him while also capturing the sweet moments he spent with family and never-before-seen images and footage. 

Elsewhere in the short film, Kate admits she didn’t ‘feel loved’ by her husband Derek as she opened up about their relationship.

In scenes from the upcoming documentary, Kate was asked is she ‘accepts you’ll have to care for him forever?’

She responded: ‘That bit yes I have accepted that completely. I think that’s our role. But how that translates into the relationship is a work in progress.’

Offering a heartbreakingly honest account of how Derek’s condition had impacted their 19-year marriage, she continued: ‘Sometimes you show love with a big bouquet of roses or bringing a cup of tea and he can’t do any of that for me.

‘So he’s trying to work out how to love me. I know he loves me but how does he show that?’

Kate – who roughly owes between £500,000 to £800,000 in debt – admitted that she’s always in ‘survival mode’, following Derek’s death

Admitting there are moments when she doesn’t ‘feel’ it from her husband, Kate added: ‘I’m trying to work out if I feel loved by him.

‘I know I am but we’ve got a whole journey there.’ 

Kate’s late husband was plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in March 2020, which saw him put in a coma, battle sepsis and left with difficulties communicating.

Derek’s Story features him talking on camera for the first time since his health battle as he admitted: ‘I want to be heard.’

In another scene, Derek was writing in his bed as Kate watched on, with the Good Morning Britain presenter remarking his handwriting was ‘not as clear’ as before but recalling: ‘When I first saw you write your name I burst into tears. You’re still there.’

While Derek admitted he could feel an improvement in his health and their son Billy said he could ‘see the difference’, Kate confessed that she couldn’t allow herself to think about what this meant going forward.

She explained: ‘I don’t look forward to the future because every time I feel like this is really fantastic, and we’ve had some amazing moments, something terrible has happened.’

Former Labour insider and jeluga-jogjhst.com psychotherapist Derek married presenter Kate in 2005 and they went on to welcome children Darcey 17 and Billy, 14.

In 2021, just over a year after contracting Covid, he was able to leave hospital and return to his family home in north London, with round-the-clock care.

In August 2022 he was taken to hospital with sepsis but pulled through. Then in early December 2023, Derek had a heart attack and was taken to hospital again.

Tragically, he wasn’t able to overcome the latest medical emergency and on January 5 Kate confirmed that Derek died.

In a post on social media, she said that her husband died surrounded by family and that she was ‘holding his hand throughout the last long hours’.

She said his Covid infection had left him with lasting damage to his heart which had led to ‘further complications’.

Kate also thanked the medical teams for making his final moments as ‘comfortable and dignified as possible.’

MailOnline understands Derek passed away on January 3 in a north London hospital.

Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story airs on on Tuesday at 9pm and will be available to stream on ITVX.

Good Morning BritainJermaine JenasCovid-19