Kate Garraway’s touching conversation with her daughter after Derek Draper’s death

Watch Ben Shephard talk about Kate Garraway's chat with her daughter

What did you miss?

Kate Garraway had a caring chat with her daughter Darcey following Derek Draper's death as the family navigate the next stages of grief.

Draper died aged 56 after having a heart attack before Christmas. The former political lobbyist had been seriously ill with long COVID and was receiving 24 hour care after he first contracted the illness at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

During Good Morning Britain on Thursday, presenter Ben Shephard thanked everyone for their support for his longtime friend Garraway and he shared the sweet story with viewers at home who have been missing Garraway from the TV.

What, how and why?

Shephard said that just the day before Darcey sweetly asked her mum to take her Christmas jumper off and to brush her hair before leaving the house. The presenter explained the conversation hit home for Garraway as she realised everything had "frozen in time".

He said on Good Morning Britain: "They are in the next stages of working out what happens; there's a lot of admin to do when you lose someone. In that brilliant way yesterday, she said, 'I have to go out to go and register the death'.

"She told Darcey, 'Look I'm going to have to go out the house.' And Darcey said, 'I know this is going to be really hard but can I make one suggestion please?' She says, 'Course you can darling'. And then Darcey said, 'Can you take the Christmas jumper off and can you brush your hair?'

"And there's that brilliant moment that Kate burst out laughing. She said to me the clocks stopped for us just before Christmas when Derek had that heart attack and she's just starting to come out of that.

"We all know that Kate in the run up to Christmas wears a new Christmas jumper every day, she supports the charity. And suddenly she realises yesterday that everything has been frozen in time since then. So now it's about the next part of his journey."

What else happened on Good Morning Britain?

Shephard revealed his friend Garraway is in a "strange bubble of grief" in the days following the death of her husband. He explained: "She said she's sort of in a strange bubble of her own numbness of grief. Her, Billy and Darcey are hunkering down together. Her amazing mum and dad have been with them, they are remarkable. She's got all the right people around her. She wanted everybody to know she will be back as soon as she can."

The TV presenter shone a light on the support offered to Garraway from the nation and how it kept his friend going during this difficult time. He added: "It's been extraordinary. It's the first time I've been on sadly since we heard of Derek's passing last Friday. I just thought it would be alright to take a moment firstly on Kate's behalf - I spoke to Kate last night - she again reiterated what she said on Monday, which is a huge, huge thank you to everyone that has sent her and the family a message."

He has even been receiving many messages on behalf of his friend. Shephard revealed it was "important" to Garraway that their story had made a difference because it had been a big decision for them to share their story with the world.

He further explained: "I've been stopped by people in the street, I was stopped by a woman who sadly lost her father that day who had been suffering for a long time with dementia and said my dad has been ill for the same period as Derek has and we've watched Kate and her family and the courage they've shown go through the last four years.

"And then he had passed away not long after Derek had and she said, 'It's been such a power of strength to see her and watch her and keep going.' Because you have to keep going. Stories like that and messages like that, it's been so overwhelming. I've received through my DMs and on the street.

"Kate said she can't explain how important that has been for her all the way for the last four years, that there has been so much support and that what she has shared - and that has been a really big decision for them to share it - has had a huge impact.

Read more

• Lorraine Kelly and ITV co-stars share memories of Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper

• Derek Draper's friends share emotional tributes as Kate Garraway announces husband's death at 56

• Derek Draper, husband of Kate Garraway and former political adviser, dies (Sky News, 2-min read)

• Timeline of late Derek Draper’s condition as Kate Garraway pays loving tribute