Kate Garraway: I didn't receive MBE for looking after Derek
Kate Garraway has pointed out that she has not received her MBE for looking after her husband Derek Draper.
The Good Morning Britain presenter - who has shared her husband’s long battle with the coronavirus in the documentary Finding Derek - was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.
Garraway told GMB in her first interview since her Honour was announced: "It has strange feelings. There've been a few comments since it was announced from people saying 'Why has she got this? I look after my loved one.'
"You sort of feel like, ooh... I haven't got it for looking after Derek. It is for broadcasting and also for charity work. But there's lots of people that you feel deserve it more - so it's a strange feeling."
Read more: Kate Garraway says husband Derek Draper had health 'scare' over Christmas
'So you read it in the papers before you knew you'd been given it!?'
'Well yes!'@kategarraway reveals she didn't believe her MBE was real when she first received the letter! pic.twitter.com/GQXxVWNFEq— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) January 4, 2022
The 54-year-old TV presenter rose to fame presenting GMTV, which she joined in 2000, and has continued to host morning television on ITV since.
In 2007 she competed in Strictly Come Dancing and in 2019 she came fourth on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
Draper, 54, is bedbound after contracting coronavirus in March 2020 and being left with significant brain injuries.
He returned to the family home in April 2021 and requires round-the-clock care.
Garraway revealed she and her children Darcey, 15, and Billy, 12, had been able to take Draper out to see a pantomime over Christmas, which had marked a significant milestone in his recovery.
She said: "He is phenomenally fatigued at the moment, very fatigued and very weak. And actually the trip to the pantomime, he was then not out of bed afterwards but we thought it was worth and I know he did too. Because he thought it was a special thing to be sitting there with the children, holding their hands, doing something normal. But it took everything out of him.
"We don't know what the year is going to bring. But he is looking smiley, present, his speech isn't there but he's aware that something special is happening and he's part of it.
Read more: Kate Garraway still hoping for 'a miracle' after husband's lengthy COVID battle
"That morning I said, 'You're very tired, do you want to do this? And he said, 'Yes! Yes!'"
Garraway had revealed that Draper suffered a health "scare" that could've seen him back in hospital over Christmas.
But fortunately, it was able to be resolved at home by his nurse and carer.
Watch: Kate Garraway read a poem about love at the royal Christmas carol service