Kate Garraway has said she still feels “very numb” following the death of her husband Derek Draper, suggesting her family are in the early stages of grief following his passing.
The broadcaster, who returned to work on Good Morning Britain this week just days after the funeral of her former lobbyist husband, was speaking about grief with co-host Ben Shephard, actor Larry Lamb and bereavement counsellor Claire Collins on Friday’s show.
In particular, the group were talking about the widespread feelings of grief shared by millions who lost loved ones during the Covid pandemic.
The discussion came ahead of the national day of reflection on March 3, where the public are encouraged to think about the devastating impact Covid had on the nation during the pandemic.
Draper was just 56 when he passed away in early January after battling various long-term, Covid-related health complications.
Garraway, who shares two children Darcey and Billy with the late Draper, said she was only at the first stages of grief as a result of what Covid did to her family.
Larry Lamb and Kate share their experiences of grief, as Larry lost his brother to cancer in 2019.
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 9, 2024
This comes ahead of the National Day of Reflection, which gives people the chance to remember loved ones lost during the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/vnJgjFKqOZ
She said: “We were talking around this time last year, about the day of reflection and the importance of it.
“And I mean, obviously, I'm in a different place to talk about it now. And I’m very aware of the sensation of grief, although also very aware that actually I'm only at the first stages and there's so many different stages of it all.
“But particularly aware of how tough it was for those in Covid, who hadn’t got that wrap around, around them or the chance to have a funeral where they could hug loved ones and all of those things.
“Which I think you know Ben we talked about at the time but I especially feel it now. It's so important to have that chance and this moment.”
Garraway added: “We are not equipped for loss. No one is equipped for it. Nobody wants to be able to face it but we are all going to come against it at some point in our lives."
She added: “I am also trying to help my children and one of the things they have said is that people don’t know what to say to them. They want to help their friends and other people feel comfortable to still have a relationship with them.”
Marie Curie’s Day of Reflection will take place on March 3, marking four years after the start of Covid-19. It aims to give people the space to reflect on the devastation the pandemic had on many people across the globe.
Garraway also spoke about being attacked online by vile trolls for laughing while hosting GMB earlier this week.
She confirmed she was returning to work during an interview with her co-stars earlier this week.
Good Morning Britain weekdays from 6am on ITV1 & ITVX
