February 9th 2024.
Kate Garraway made her return to Good Morning Britain this week, but unfortunately, it wasn't all positive. The 56-year-old presenter faced backlash from cruel trolls after her emotional return to the show, just days after her husband Derek Draper's funeral. Derek tragically passed away last month at the age of 56.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Kate was determined to return to her day job as an anchor on the ITV breakfast show. Earlier in the week, she appeared via video link for an interview before officially returning to the studio on Thursday. And even though it was a tough time for Kate, she still managed to joke and laugh with her friend and co-star Ben Shephard.
However, not everyone was understanding of Kate's behavior. Some people took issue with her ability to laugh and accused her of not caring. During Friday's episode, Kate opened up about the backlash, admitting, "I got a bit of flack on social media yesterday for laughing with you [Ben], as though that would imply I didn't care." She then explained that laughter is a way to remember the joy that a loved one brought into their lives, and she wanted to share that joy with the viewers who may also be going through tough times.
Ben also came to Kate's defense earlier in the week, joking that he would give her some "leeway" during this difficult time. Kate, in turn, teased that she was excited to be back in the real world and on screen. "I'm going to be looking forward to a blow dry," she joked. "I'm going to be finding fake eyelashes. I'm going to be very much looking forward to applying fake tan. Don't worry, I will be a little bit more respectable by Thursday."
Kate's husband Derek passed away last month after a long battle with Covid-19. In a statement, Kate shared that he was surrounded by his family in his final days and that she was holding his hand until he passed. During Thursday's episode, Ben also spoke about Derek's "extraordinary" funeral, describing it as a "real celebration" and saying that the entire family did him proud.
Kate, on the other hand, wanted to make sure the focus was on Derek and not herself. She joked, "That changes this morning, it's back to me." But in all seriousness, she expressed her gratitude for Derek's friends and their teenage children, Billy and Darcey, for their love and support during this difficult time.
Kate also acknowledged that not everyone has the same support system when going through grief. She and Ben have the privilege of having each other and their jobs, but there are many people who may have love around them but find it harder to see it. She hoped that by sharing her story, she can help others going through similar experiences.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 at 6am. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, you can get in touch with the entertainment team at The Agency by emailing us, calling 020 3615 2145, or visiting our Submit Stuff page. We'd love to hear from you.
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