Jenni Falconer praised her colleague Kate Garraway after the star’s father reportedly suffered a suspected stroke just six months after her husband Derek Draper died.
Draper passed away on January 3 at the age of 56 after suffering a heart attack just before Christmas, nearly four years after falling seriously ill with Covid and requiring constant care.
In December Falconer expressed her support for Garraway and her family on Smooth Radio in the wake of Draper’s hospitalisation. Recently Garraway’s personal life has faced another challenge after her father suffered a suspected stroke and heart attack.
In the wake of her father’s health woes, Garraway has taken time off from Smooth Radio and ITV’s Good Morning Britain to be with her family in Cornwall. In light of the family emergency, Falconer praised Garraway for navigating this difficult time with immense strength.
Speaking to The Standard, Falconer said: “Kate has had a truly challenging few years with a lot of heartbreak for her, Billy, and Darcey. She is an incredible woman, capable of managing so much even in the face of such adversity.
“She has a great support system at work, whether at Smooth or GMB.”
The presenter, who has worked with Garraway since their GMTV days, continued: “I’ve known Kate for almost 25 years since we both started at GMTV together.
“I used to be on air after her, and now at Smooth, she’s on after me! She knows we are always here for her if she needs anything.”
Aside from pouring praise on Garraway, the broadcaster, 48, has overcome her own physical feats this year, completing the London Marathon for the nineth time in April, despite being struck down with injury three miles in.
Following advice from her physiotherapist, she was urged to change her trainers at the “11th hours” before the event, but being half a size too small, the last minute shoe swap left her feet bloodied and “mangled”. At the time, the Scottish star said she was about 20 minutes slower than she had hoped for because of the injury, which was tended to by medics after she crossed the finish line.
Reflecting on her experience, she told us: “The result was very sore and cut toes, which were in a bad way at the finish line and needed medical attention... In fact my toes were bleeding from about mile 3 on race day.”
And if you thought her injury would stop her wanting to compete her 10th marathon, think again as she shared: “It was not ideal but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the day, it has only made me want to do it again with the right shoes.”
“My feet have now recovered although, if I am honest, my toenails are still not great, let's put it this way, I will never be booked as a foot model,” she quipped.
Before she sets her sights on another London Marathon, Falconer has combined her love of running with her broadcasting career through her podcast, Run: Pod.
With the Paris 2024 Olympics underway, she launched a spin-off titled RunPod: Going For Gold to coincide with the event, premiering the first episode last week with guest and two-time Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes.
When asked what motivated her to create the spin-off, Falconer, who carried the Olympic torch in 2012 before the London Games, explained: “This year, I wanted to create a special RunPod series focused on top Olympians, which led to RunPod: Going For Gold.
“I’ve spoken with several well-known athletes about their podium moments, the highs and lows of the Olympics, and their experiences in the Olympic village. There is joy in winning but also heartbreak in losing.”
