Ben Shephard says Kate Garraway has been 'incredibly brave' throughout her husband's illness

Ben Shephard has said he thinks Kate Garraway has been 'incredibly brave' while caring for her husband who continues to recover from Covid-19.

Garraway's husband Derek Draper was initially hospitalised with the respiratory infection in March 2020 and remained there for a year.

Two years on from contracting the illness, Draper remains seriously incapacitated and is only able to speak a few words and sleeps for 20 hours a day. He currently requires around the clock care.

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Speaking to Metro about what Garraway had been through, Shephard said: "There are no words to explain my admiration for how Kate is continuing to manage a heartbreaking situation for her and her family."

He added: "Not only looking after her children but now her husband Derek as well, and juggling a career because there are bills to pay, especially for his ongoing care."

The Tipping Point presenter also praised his Good Morning Britain co-host for shining a light on the state of social care in the UK: "She’s been incredibly brave to share their journey to help others. She’s learning about the social care system and how broken it is, and if she can make some steps to alleviate the pain for others, then it’s hugely important, albeit inviting cameras into her house and sharing the most personal issues they are dealing with."

Shephard and Garraway have both presented Good Morning Britain since the show's launch in 2014.

They originally worked together on GMTV which Shephard joined in 2000 to co-present an entertainment section of the show.

He departed GMTV in 2010 two months before the show was cancelled and replaced with Daybreak which featured Garraway but not Shephard.

As well as Shephard and Garraway, Good Morning Britain is also currently hosted by Susanna Reid with a host of relief presenters such as Richard Madeley and Adil Ray also featured following the departure of Piers Morgan last year.

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