Kate Garraway Reflects on Retirement Plans After Husband’s Passing on Good Morning Britain
During a heartfelt discussion on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Kate Garraway opened up about her thoughts on retirement and her personal journey as a carer. Joined by co-host Adil Ray, they were in conversation with comedian and presenter Paddy McGuinness when the discussion took a reflective turn.
Paddy started by talking about his upcoming road trip series with former Top Gear colleague Chris Harris. As he shared his excitement about the project, Kate interjected with a personal reflection on aging and retirement, saying, “You’re working out how to grow old and where to retire. Obviously, this is very much in my remit and focus, so I’m interested in what you would discover.” Paddy responded, noting the broad appeal of the show’s themes.
The series will follow Paddy and Chris as they travel to places like Sweden, Greece, and Switzerland, exploring the challenges and joys of middle age. The three-part series is set to air later this year, offering fans a mix of humor and introspection, as reported by The Mirror. Paddy, with his signature wit, added, “I’m very much looking forward to getting back on the road with Chris Harris.
Not so much looking forward to sharing a confined space with him. He doesn’t believe in deodorant. On the plus side, he’ll give me something to laugh at along the way. Bring it on!” Kate also touched on her own experiences, particularly in the wake of her husband Derek Draper’s passing earlier this year. After taking a brief break from Good Morning Britain, she returned to share her journey as a carer, speaking to guests who had found love while caring for partners with dementia.
Reflecting on her own experience, Kate shared, “Derek did not have dementia, but after Covid, there was a sense he was absolutely the same person, still loved him as much, but there was a change. And with dementia, this doesn’t happen overnight; it’s something very slow, and the person caring has to learn how to love that person in a different way.”
Derek Draper, who had been critically ill following a cardiac arrest and complications from Covid-19, passed away in January. Kate paid a moving tribute to him online, writing, “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away. He was surrounded by his family in his final days, and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours.”
Kate’s tribute continued, expressing gratitude to the medical teams who fought to save Derek and to everyone who supported their family during his illness. She concluded with a heartfelt message: “Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support.”