Kate Garraway has made a heartbreaking confession that even now, months after her husband Derek Draper’s death, she still wakes up in the night panicking that she forgot to give him his medicine.
The 58-year-old broadcaster, who lost her husband in January 2024 following a long and painful battle with long Covid, opened up about the lasting psychological toll of caregiving and grief in a candid new interview.
“I still wake up in the middle of the night thinking I forgot to turn him or missed a dose of medicine,” Kate told The Sun. “Then I remember — he’s no longer here. There’s a moment of relief that I didn’t let him down, followed by a wave of sadness.”
Derek passed away at the age of 56 after four years of constant medical support, a period that completely consumed Kate’s life — emotionally, physically, and financially.
In 2023, the stress took a terrifying toll on her own health. She was rushed to A&E after experiencing searing chest pains, caused by exhaustion and stress. “I couldn’t even move to turn off my alarm at 2am,” she previously revealed.
Kate has also spoken openly about the staggering financial impact of Derek’s care. At its peak, it cost £16,000 per month — far exceeding her ITV salary. In addition to care bills, the collapse of Derek’s psychotherapy company, Astra Aspera, has left her with debts estimated between £500,000 and £800,000, including unpaid taxes.
“I’ve had to withdraw from my pension just to pay the bills,” Kate admitted, reflecting on how she’s been forced to use retirement savings meant for her future to cover medical costs.
Despite all this, she remains active in her work life — juggling her Good Morning Britain role, a Smooth Radio show now reaching 2.8 million listeners, and her new involvement in Celebrity Traitors. She’s also hosting a Dubai-set podcast called DXB Unheard, filmed during a period when she was contemplating life without Derek.
Now, with debts looming and grief still raw, Kate says she’s determined to “honour what is required” financially while finding space to heal.
