Kate Garraway Dedicates National Television Award Win To Late Husband Derek Draper

Kate Garraway dedicated her National Television Award win to her late husband Derek Draper.

Garraway landed the accolade for Best Authored Documentary for Kate Garraway: Derek's Story, which looked at her late husband's final year of his life before his death in January, following a lengthy battle with the long-term affects of Covid-19. Mr Draper was 56 years old.

This is the third NTA win for Garraway, with her two previous docs about her struggles with the care system winning in 2021 and 2022. 

Dedicating her latest win to Derek, Kate Garraway called for more support for carers.

"It’s so strange to be here – this one’s for you Derek, absolutely", she said as she reflected on how herself and her children are halfway through the first year of "firsts" without him. 

Garraway also paid tribute to her team who helped to create this documentary series, and praises carers nationwide.

"This one is for all those people who care", she said. 

Garraway also made a plea for a system which better supports carers, saying: "We need a system which catches us when we fall, not catches us out… I’m going to keep the fight on for all of you". 

"touches everybody"

Kate Garraway also reflected on her award win in the winners' room afterwards, where she also praised the public for their support for this documentary.

"I think maybe that’s because it’s not about me and it’s not about Derek, it’s about really the subject matter which touches everybody, doesn’t it?", she said. "Everybody knows somebody who needs care of one sort or another, and if they don’t now, they will do… so I think hopefully it’s given those people a bit of a voice". 

The Good Morning Britain star was also asked if this documentary could start a dialogue about the role of carers and the system's lack of funding. 

She said that these carers saved her husband's life "many, many times" over the last few years, time which had "such value" to her and her children. 

"There are millions of people out there caring for love, unsupported, worried about their bills, and you know everybody has the right to live the best life they can and I think it’s one of those things until you’re in it, you don’t realise the value of it", Garraway stated. "So hopefully, though, this means that people are getting a voice heard and are carrying on fighting". 

She also spoke about the "thousands and thousands and thousands" of letters she and her team received regarding these documentaries about her husband. She called these people who cared for loved ones "unsung, wonderful heroes". 

Garraway also added that she hopes that politicians take note of this.

"That would be lovely, wouldn’t it? That would be lovely", she said."I think there’s probably will on all political sides, but I guess if we all come together and make sure that it’s a priority, that it will happen".