Kate Garraway filmed abroad for secret new project

Kate Garraway has now lifted the lid on secret filming abroad for a new project.

The news came after moving documentary Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story aired on 26 March, capturing the final year of her late husband's life. Derek Draper died aged 56 after a battle with long COVID, having first fallen ill with the virus at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. In January, he was given an emotional send off with stars Tony Blair and Elton John attending Draper's funeral.

Garraway delighted Good Morning Britain fans with her return on Monday after she was away filming abroad last week for a different project. From behind the scenes, the breakfast TV presenter shared a few details as she said she had the chance to meet "some truly inspirational people".

Despite the reveal, she teased there was more to come in September. She wrote on Instagram: "Just landed back home after an amazing week filming - meeting some truly inspirational people (can reveal all in September). Every flight that lands safely is a good flight by me! But this was exceptional."

The TV star addressed the troubles with the international storms but she praised the staff for calmly dealing with the delays. She added: "Despite storms internationally & delays the staff were calm & kind & managed to look as fresh as these flowers – even on landing. I am more resembling pot pouri but feel great!!!"

Alongside the news, the Good Morning Britain presenter shared a photograph of stunning purple orchids. Also in the post, Garraway added the hashtags 'itsthelittlebigthings', 'kind', 'gratitude' and 'pureclass'.

Social media was awash with her fans sharing support for the star and her latest venture. Among the comments, one person wrote: "They are so beautiful love orchids I have two plants that are doing well. excited for you & us to what you have been filming & can’t wait until September."

One person said they had seen Garraway on the flight with her son Billy. They wrote beneath her Instagram post: "We saw you and your son on the flight. Hope you're all well."

Others defended Garraway from the trolling comments she had received over the Emirates flight. One person wrote: "Kate is a journalist, that’s her job, that’s how she earns money to support her family. Why do people feel it necessary to criticise her. Is she supposed to hibernate give up her job and look for something else to do to support her family!!"

Another added: "Kate has just lost her husband, she's working to support her children. The flight was probably paid by the company she's working for. Why are people so nasty with their comments. If you're not happy don't read the posts. Sending love to you Kate x."

In March, Garraway was left speechless after watching Derek's Story back for the first time. She said on This Morning: "I couldn’t really speak for about an hour afterwards actually, and that was the sort of human reaction… I couldn’t really speak, I was overwhelmed, it was raw."

Having watched the documentary back that told her late husband's story, Garraway detailed the sadness she feels. "For him to have struggled so hard and fought so long, that’s just a personal sadness for me," she said.

"But I was also very keen that it didn’t then look like a waste because I thought of all the hundreds of specialist doctors, nurses and carers that had given so much of their own time to try and make things better for Derek, and they do it for everybody… I wouldn’t like them to think that that effort was a waste."

During the documentary, Garraway opened up about her struggles with the debt she faced while caring for her husband. She said: "Derek's care costs more than my salary from ITV and that's before you pay for a mortgage or household bills or anything for the kids - so that is a crunch point."

She added: "We are entirely reliant on extraordinary carers but the system they work for is incredibly complicated and underfunded... Why is it people get sick and it's no longer considered the right thing for them to be in hospital, why does coming home feel like falling off a cliff?"

Read more

• Everything you need to know about Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story

• Kate Garraway couldn't speak for an hour after Derek Draper documentary

• 'Kate Garraway's Derek Draper documentary should be a wake up call for the government'

• Kate Garraway's moving moment on her last birthday with Derek Draper