Kate Garraway is set to miss Good Morning Britain for a second week running after her husband Derek Draper took 'a very serious turn.' Kate, 55, was first reported as absent from the popular morning programme last week, with it later coming to light that Derek, 54, had been rushed back to hospital.
Derek contracted Covid early on in the pandemic, which has gone on to have life changing effects on the dad-of-two who has suffered a series of health implications ever since. While there was hope he was making some improvements, it was revealed last week that Derek had again been in-and-out of hospital for the last few months.
A source told The Sun on Wednesday 20 July: “Derek has been taken back to hospital this morning in a very serious condition. The family are very worried about him but Derek is in the best hands.", as seen in OK Magazine.
It appears as if Derek hasn’t made any improvements since, as Kate continues to be absent from GMB. Sources close to Kate told the Daily Mail that the doting wife has “a lot on caring for him” so had stepped back from her presenting roles for the time being.
Her absence was addressed on the show last week, with Charlotte Hawkins telling viewers that they were “sending lots of love” to the family. Noting that she was missing, Ben Shepherd said: “We are missing a member of the team, aren't we?”
Charlotte replied: “We are, yeah. So Kate's taken some time out to be with Derek at the moment so we are sending lots of love. Lots of you have been in touch with messages of support, so we wish him well.” Ben went on to add: “Thanks very much for your messages of support, you know how much Kate appreciates all the support she gets, and fingers crossed Derek will be home as soon as possible.”
Derek is thought to have been back in hospital for some time now, with Kate sharing her hopes that he’d be coming home earlier this month.
“'Hopefully he'll come out again. Hopefully tonight,” she told The Sun at the time. “I'm crossing my fingers. I'm really tired but I take it day by day to level out the ups and downs.” While that didn’t happen, a source close to Kate said the mum-of-two is “hell-bent on staying positive”.
They said: "Kate's been incredibly strong throughout Derek's illness and has remained a pillar of strength for the family despite their entire lives being turned around, but right now she's in pure survival mode and is having to now face the possibility of her worst nightmare coming true if Derek doesn't make it out of this.
"She's hell-bent on staying positive, not only for Derek but for herself and the children too."
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