Yahoo News Piers Morgan ‘stunned’ by phonecall with Kate Garraway’s husband that left carers in tears
Piers Morgan has revealed the miracle phonecall he had with Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper the night before he sat down with her for her Life Stories interview.
Draper is the UK's worst-affected living COVID patient, having spent 13 months in hospital and still needing round-the-clock care now he is home, and much of Garraway's interview due to air on ITV tonight (Sunday) focusses on the devastating impact his illness has had.
Morgan, who spoke to his former Good Morning Britain co-star for his last ever episode of Life Stories, says in the interview: "We had a moment last night when I rang you about this interview. Without warning, you said to me, 'Why don't you talk to Derek?' and Derek replied when you said it was me, very loud, clear, 'Hello.'
"And I said a few things to him and at the end he said, 'Thank you'. I was stunned."
Garraway, who will take over hosting Life Stories from Morgan, replies: "Well, so were we. The carers that were with me at the time burst into tears. I mean, I don't want to suggest you're a healer Piers but it was a remarkable moment. It's moments like that that make you realise that he is in there.
"And we've had others - he will turn to me and say, 'I love you.'"
Morgan, 56, urges his friend to keep hoping that Draper will recover as she explains: "He will have moments of clarity and it's like he disappears again."
The interview also sees Garraway, 54, admit that life since Draper's illness feels like she has "walked through a fiery furnace or fell down a rabbit hole" as she and their two children try to adjust to what has happened.
She explains that COVID has affected his digestive system, liver, kidneys, heart, nervous system and brain, adding that he still can't communicate.
But she says: "Fundamentally, he's in a terrible state. Look, he's alive, Piers."
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The episode marks the last with Morgan in charge since he launched the series in 2009, which has included him interviewing Joan Collins, Michael Parkinson, Barbara Windsor, Mel B and Chris Eubank.
He is wrapping up his commitments at ITV before joining Rupert Murdoch's new venture talkTV in the new year.
Piers Morgan's Life Stories air on ITV at 9pm tonight (Sunday).
Watch: Kate Garraway dedicates award to husband Derek Draper
