Kate Garraway: Derek and I are learning to be couple again

Kate Garraway has said she and husband Derek Draper are relearning how to be a couple again.

The Good Morning Britain presenter — who cares for her husband at home as a result of his long battle with coronavirus — admitted her relationship with 54-year-old Derek had been forced to change after she became his carer.

Garraway, 55, told Good Housekeeping magazine: “When you nearly lose someone, it certainly brings everything into sharp focus. In many ways, we’re still learning how we are as man and wife, as so much has changed.

Read more: Kate Garraway 'exhausted' and 'fretful as Derek is 'in and out of hospital'

"It’s the same for the children – they’re having to relearn the experience of being with their dad. And, of course, the biggest learning is for poor Derek.”

The TV presenter — mother to 12-year-old son Billy and 15-year-old daughter Darcey — 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 revealed she hopes when she is officially awarded her MBE Draper, who she married in 2005, will be well enough to join her at the ceremony.

She said: "I do feel there’s room for celebration, though, and my hope is that if we do eventually have a ceremony, Derek will be further along in his recovery and we can go together. That would be wonderful.”

Garraway said her experiences over the past two years had taught her to live more in the moment.

She said: "I really try to seize those moments because when you do, you realise that life is just a collection of moments – and finding more good ones than bad ones is probably the secret to it all."

The former I'm A Celebrity and Strictly Come Dancing contestant recently admitted feeling the strain as Derek has undergone a series of hospital visits.

She told her 1.1m Instagram followers: "So Derek has been in and out of hospital a lot recently -hopefully the wonderful health teams will help him improve but I woke up early feeling exhausted and very fretful."

She also shared an update on her husband’s health in ITV documentary Caring For Derek.

Revealing the day-to-day reality of being a carer, she showed her home piled with mountains of laundry from seven bed changes a day.

Draper is bed-bound after contracting coronavirus in March 2020 and has been left with significant brain injuries.

Garraway previously revealed Draper last year travelled to Mexico to take part in a new medical trial.

He returned to the family home in April 2021 and requires round-the-clock care.

Read more: Kate Garraway says she didn't receive an MBE for looking after Derek

Caring For Derek is the follow-up to Garraway's award-winning ITV documentary about Finding Derek charting his return home and the whole family's adjustment to his round-the-clock care.

Watch: Kate Garraway thanks nurse who cared for husband Derek Draper live on GMB