Kate Garraway denies she is leaving 'GMB' to care for husband Derek Draper fulltime

Watch: Kate Garraway denies she is leaving 'GMB' to care for husband Derek Draper fulltime

Kate Garraway has denied she plans to quit Good Morning Britain to become a fulltime carer for husband Derek Draper, saying: "I'm not going anywhere!"

The 53-year-old TV and radio presenter appeared on the ITV breakfast show as a guest to discuss documentary Finding Derek, detailing her husband's year long battle with COVID-19 and its after effects.

Asked by host Ben Shephard if it is true she plans to give up work if Draper is allowed to come home from hospital Garraway said: "You can't get rid of me that easily Shephard. I'm not going anywhere! I never saw it as giving up work. I'm going to have to adapt my life."

Read more: Kate Garraway remembers harrowing call with husband Derek Draper: 'There's no way out'

The former I'm A Celebrity and Strictly contestant – who also presents Mid Mornings on Smooth Radio – said working had helped her keep going through the trauma of Draper's health struggles, and admitted she had come to terms with the fact he needs professional medical support.

Garraway said: "ITV and Global Radio have been so supportive, and that has kept me going. It's a slice of normal, a slice of life.

"Derek doesn't need me – I'm not the person to care for him. Obviously I'd be there for him 100%, but what he needs is specialist care, whether that is in hospital, or at home – and I would like that to be – I would want to just sit there and hold his hand, but I am not an expert."

The former GMTV presenter revealed that Draper, 53, had actually regressed in his recovery somewhat in the past few months, and revealed there were times when she feared that though his body was alive, he was no longer there.

Garraway said: "Maybe conversations are stretching it. maybe it's more words, and that has regressed a little bit since the documentary - this year has not been so good. But there were and that gives you hope.

"There are moments in the documentary when people that know Derek will know that he is there.

"And for such a long time that's been the horror – is he still in there, is he trapped inside, or is he gone?

"But he's even got his accent back. Even COVID can't take Chorley out! So that is just miraculous."

Garraway said her two children – daughter Darcey, 14, and son Billy, 11 – have coped "tremendously" with their father's illness, and adapted to having a relationship with him over Facetime while he is in hospital.

She said: "They are extraordinary, every parent thinks their children are extraordinary, but they've both coped tremendously.

"They have seen a lot of things that will be a shock to people because they've seen it over Facetime.

"It's a compliment to Derek because he's filled them with so much love and confidence up until now, and I hope he will again."

Read more: Kate Garraway shares first photo of Derek Draper in hospital

Garraway married Draper – her second husband – in 2005.

Draper fell ill with COVID-19 in March 2020 and was placed in a medically-induced coma from which he has still not fully recovered.

Kate Garraway: Finding Derek airs on ITV1 at 9pm on Tuesday 23 March 2021.

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