Kate Garraway reveals she was dealt blow months on from Derek Draper's heartbreaking death

Kate Garraway has told how she was dealt a bit of a blow months after the heartbreaking death of her husband. Derek Draper died in January, four years after the former Labour lobbyist-turned-psychotherapist became ill with Covid at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

Derek spent more than a year in hospital and continued to battle the severe effects the virus had on his body while receiving around-the-clock care at home. The 56-year-old then fell seriously ill before Christmas after suffering a cardiac arrest. He died on January 3 aged 56 with Kate explaining in her statement that "the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications."

Kate has now revealed that the only polling card posted through her door was for her late husband. The Good Morning Britain host, 57, shared the heartbreaking news while speaking about how people can vote as the nation heads to the polls as the General Election takes place on Thursday (July 4).

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Kate told viewers on the ITV news programme: "I haven't had one for myself. The only polling card that's come through the door is for Derek, sadly, who's passed away."

It came as Kate and her co-host Adil both explained why GMB would be a "politics-free" episode, despite having heavily covered the various political events and milestones the country has faced over the years.

Kate said: "You might be wondering why on the day of the election - because it is polling day today, by the way - we're not actually discussing the issues related to the general election or interviewing the people that have a position on the issues."

She added: "We can't talk about the issues because we have to follow certain broadcasting rules which means today's Good Morning Britain is a 'politics-free zone.'" Adil then joked: "Some people might enjoy!" as Kate replied: "Some people might be delighted!"

Meanwhile, Kate's comments about Derek come after she marked her children Darcey and Billy's first Father's Day without him last month. Taking to Instagram at the time, Kate shared a previously unseen picture of herself and Derek with their children as well as a sweet selfie of herself and her dad and a photo of her father-in-law with a young Darcey.

"So yesterday was one of those days the kids & I knew would be tough," the Good Morning Britain star started to reflect. #fathersday - the day when everyone wants to celebrate their daddy. We started by visiting Derek’s grave early - and talked about all the amazing things we loved about him, the daft things he did to make us laugh and all the things he has given us that we’ll never forget. We have so much to be grateful for . We’re also so grateful to still have my amazing dad in our lives and Derek’s dad too >>> Brilliant Papa & Grandad."

Kate then went on to share how they spent the day. "Then thanks to my fab @global family we went to the #capitalsummertimeball - an amazing day of music & summer joy. It was sad coming home & not finding Derek waiting to hear 'all about it' as he used to say. But so wonderful that we had him at all. I know for so many yesterday would have been a tough day so here’s to getting through and let’s celebrate all the wonderful fathers & father figures & what they gift us every day. #love #gratitude #letscelebratelife."