Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway has admitted she feels “frustrated, depressed and emotional” at caring for her husband - who is a long-suffering Covid patient.
Derek Draper, a political advisor, was admitted to hospital with the virus in March 2020, only returning home in April 2021 and still receives round the clock care.
The 55-year-old presenter spoke on Monday’s Mental Health Awareness Day on the back of her ITV documentary Caring For Derek, which was nominated for a National Television Award.
She said in an Instagram video: “In the documentary you saw me frustrated, depressed, emotional and I have been all of those and more in recent weeks.
“The thing about caring is that you want it to carry on because you want the person to be surviving so that they can still be with you.
“But there is not an end point and it doesn’t get any easier.”
She thanked fans for their support and said she was grateful for the nomination of the National Television Award - which she could win at the Wembley Arena ceremony on Thursday. Ms Garraway said she felt “conflicted” about “asking for more” but felt it was important to publicise the issue and called on people to watch the film which is still available on the ITV Hub.
“More than half [of carers],” she said, “have severe mental health problems. And every single one of us will need to care for ourselves or have to be a carer. It’s the way life is.”
The public can now vote for their favourite documentary on the National Television Awards website and while Ms Garraway said “you don’t have to vote for Caring for Derek,” she did urge everyone to get involved.
The couple have been together since 2005 and live with children William, 13, and Darcey, 16.
