Susanna Reid Backs Kate Garraway Following ‘Backlash’ Over Derek Draper Documentary
Good Morning Britain anchor Susanna Reid took a moment to commend her co-presenter Kate Garraway for her bravery after Kate’s heartfelt disclosure about her family’s struggles. During Monday’s episode (September 9), Susanna, joined by Ed Balls, discussed the day’s top headlines before engaging in an interview with actor Richard Armitage about his National Television Award nomination, told Manchester Evening News.
As the conversation wrapped up, both Ed and Susanna turned their attention to Kate’s own National Television Award nomination for her documentary Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story. Kate has been open about her husband Derek Draper’s long battle with COVID-19 since 2020. Ed encouraged viewers to vote for Kate’s documentary, saying, “You can also vote for our Kate Garraway’s Derek story which is also up for an award this week, so that would be good.” Susanna added, “It’s a wonderful documentary.”
Despite the praise, Kate recently shared why she hesitated to promote her nomination on social media. Speaking on Good Morning Britain last Thursday (September 5), she 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 realize I’m letting people down.”
Reflecting on Derek’s experience, Kate revealed the emotional toll the illness took on him. “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,” she shared. “Making this documentary was his way of saying, ‘I’m gonna speak up for the people that have supported me, the family, but also those around me and the people within the care system.'”
Kate emphasized how important it was to honor Derek and the millions affected by similar situations. “I’m sad because I don’t have the chance to care anymore,” she said, “but I felt it would be wrong for me to walk away from the caring campaign that I feel I have a responsibility for.”
Derek, who had been a political lobbyist and psychotherapist, sadly passed away in January 2024, nearly four years after his initial illness. Following his passing, Kate took time away from the show to be with her family before returning to Good Morning Britain.