Kate Garraway takes over the hosting duties of Life Stories from Piers Morgan and it's fair to say that the Good Morning Britain host has a heck of a life story of her own - from a short-lived first marriage to supporting husband Derek Draper during his on-going Covid battle.
The new role comes after a tough two years for the 54-year-old mother-of-two. Up until the spring of 2020 she and Derek, married since 2005, were enjoying life with children Darcey and Billy after her successful stint on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! when the TV presenter came fourth.
The Berkshire-born TV host credited the Australian reality show as reviving her and Derek's marriage, which she admitted was a "bit stale" before she went in the jungle.
Read more: Kate Garraway discusses MBE backlash as Good Morning Britain returns
Husband Derek told ITV's Lorraine at the time: "I am falling in love with her all over again to be honest. Because you see how clever she is, funny, and stunning."
The couple were even planning to renew their vows after Derek proposed for a second time.
Devastatingly, before the celebration could happen, political aide Derek contracted Covid and spent more than a year in a critical condition after being placed in an induced coma because he was so ill.
Kate was Piers Morgan's final guest during his Life Stories reign and she told the host that the illness had "devastated" her husband who left hospital and returned home in April of 2021 and receives round the clock care.
"From the top of his head to the tip of his toe," she explained.
"His digestive system, his liver, his kidneys, his heart, his nervous system. We're pretty sure that the inflammation did pass through the brain. He still can't communicate, he still has issues with mobility.
"Fundamentally, he's in a terrible state. Look, he's alive, Piers."
Kate documented the family's journey through Derek's illness with the documentary, Finding Derek last summer and is planning a follow-up. The initial TV documentary picked up a National Television Award for Authored Documentary.
In the 2022 New Year's Honours list Kate picked up an MBE for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity and outside of the important work she's done on Derek's journey, Kate certainly has had a busy career.
Kate's first marriage and career
Starting in 1989 at ITV Central as a production journalist, in 1996 Kate became co-presenter on ITV News Meridian and she also met her first husband, Ian Rumsey, to whom she was married from 1998 to 2002.
According to Mirror Online, the two separated when Kate reportedly kicked him out amid claims he'd had an affair with another TV presenter.
One of Kate's close friends told the Mirror: "She says he was cheating on her for some time and that's why she threw him out."
Ian always denied the claims and blamed the split on Kate's long hours and 2am starts as she had just started to host GMTV as cover for Fiona Phillips, who had departed on maternity leave.
Kate drew a line under the matter when she released a brief statement to address the rumours.
She said: "It's always terribly sad when a marriage comes to an end. I'm disappointed that what's a very private matter has been brought into the public domain.
"I was dismayed by reports in the papers because they are substantially inaccurate."
By 1998 she'd joined Sky News' Sunrise, then GMTV in 2000, where she co-hosted until it ended in 2010 and became Daybreak on which she was entertainment editor. Just before it ended, Ian was brought into GMTV as boss. Kate addressed the pair working together saying: "Seeing as we're both working together at the moment, we obviously get on and have a lot in common. I think it's good we've managed to keep a friendly relationship afterwards."
Kate on Life Stories
Kate was Piers Morgan's final guest in what was his 13-year run hosting the ITV show, during which time he interviewed the likes of Joan Collins, Burt Reynolds, Pamela Anderson and Cliff Richard, amongst others.
Kate's first guest on Thursday, February 3 is former England footballer John Barnes and Charlotte Church is also featured in the series.
Kate previously spoke about her new Life Stories role on GMB saying that "it still sounds so weird," joking that she "grabbed" the baton from Piers.
Kate Garraway's Life Stories airs 9pm, Thursdays on ITV.
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