Kate Garraway reveals she can’t pay ‘excessive debt’ for late husband Derek Draper’s care – on anniversary of his death

GOOD Morning Britain anchor Kate Garraway told ITV show viewers it is the one-year anniversary of her late husband Derek Draper’s death in a raw reveal on-screen.

And the mum-of-two also heartbreakingly admitted she was struggling to settle the “excessive unpayable debts” of his social care 12 months on.

ITV

Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway revealed she was fronting the January 3 episode on the one-year anniversary of husband Derek Draper’s death[/caption]

PA

The former political lobbyist faced a series of health issues, including recovering from Covid[/caption]

ITV

Kate outlined the ‘excessive unpayable debts’ of his social care to Labour Health Secretary, Wes Streeting[/caption]

Former political lobbyist Derek Draper tragically died aged 56 in January 2023, following four years of health struggles.

Kate previously admitted she was struggling to keep her “head above water” during the anniversary of his birthday last May

And today the ITV stalwart, who was fronting Friday’s Good Morning Britain with co-host Adil Ray, 50, launched a blistering attack at Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting, 41.

As she introduced their chat, Kate – who has become a staunch campaigner for unpaid carers – referenced her experience with Derek as they discussed issues in the sector.

The anchor – whose care bill for her late spouse has amounted to £800K – said: “It happens to be the one year anniversary of his death today.

“A day that is only relevant to me.”

Kate then explained how two separate appeals for funding to pay for Derek’s care costs kept getting “pushed back” – and how the family had “not heard” the outcome when he went into Intensive Care prior to his passing.

The brave broadcaster continued: “In the meantime I am lucky, I’ve got an incredible job which pays well, but I was having to fund the situation.

“Now I’ve got excessive, unpayable debt because of it.

“And if I am in that position, what else are people going to be?

“People cant afford four more years of this.”

Dad of two Derek was left fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a heart attack over the festive period in 2023.

Yet he was already one of the UK’s longest-suffering Covid patients, after being diagnosed in March 2020.

Kate paid a touching tribute to her late spouse at his funeral in February and, just days later, made her “brave” GMB return.

TOUGH TIMES

Yet Kate has always been candid on the financial hit Derek’s care has taken on her family.

Kate recently told how she was withdrawing cash from her pension early to try to stem the crippling costs of the bills.

On a previous GMB episode, she also admitted she had looked into the same finance technique to release funds from Derek’s pension when he was still alive, in order to again pay off the fees.

At the time, she said: “As anyone with a loved one who is seriously ill knows, the costs go through the roof in so many ways.

“You have to make changes to your home and it affects your ability to work.

“I had to take long periods off when Derek was first sick, and of course if affects the overall income for the family as he can no longer work.

“We had to wind up the business we had together, and also I’ve had to take on assistants so that I can focus on Derek when not on air.

“Derek was always so incredibly supportive of my work, but I didn’t realise just how much he did do in that area until he couldn’t anymore.”

In December, The Sun exclusively revealed how her TV company had plunged into debt.

She also shut down another company she owned with Derek – with £900K debts.

ITV

Kate told how two appeals to fund Derek’s care were getting ‘pushed back’[/caption]

AFP

Derek’s care costs are suggested to amount to £800K[/caption]

PA

Kate – who is a staunch campaigner for unpaid carers – told how she had tried to tap into her pension early to stem the flow of the costs[/caption]