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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Tina Campbell

Kate Garraway shares Christmas plans amid husband Derek’s ill health

Kate Garraway is busy trying to plan the perfect Christmas for her family this year

(Picture: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)

Kate Garraway has shared an insight into her preparations for Christmas including some drama around their Christmas tree.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 55, is set to spend the holidays with her children Darcey, 16, and Billy, 13, and husband Derek Draper, who continues to battle various health issues triggered by Covid nearly three years ago.

Garraway set her sights on a particularly large tree, but almost couldn’t get it home.

Taking to Instagram, the TV presenter explained: “So they say it takes a village to raise a child .. but how many does it take to ‘raise’ a Christmas tree.

“Well in my case (altogether now sing along) … ‘5 exasperated shop workers, 4 helpful neighbours , 3 frazzled parents , 2 over excited kids & NOT a partridge in a pear tree, but a #peugeot308sw with a surprisingly large boot’ – even my own mother didn’t believe I could get a 6 foot tree in but I knew my Percy Peugeot wouldn’t let me down!!”

Despite the huge effort required, she said it had been “so worth it to see the kids so happy”.

Adding: “At last ready for #christmas – well ‘ish’”.

The Berkshire-born star also shared photos of her smiling broadly next to the tree in question, alongside some kind people who helped make her dream a reality.

After finally getting it inside the house, Darcey and Billy posed in front of it once it was all decked out in colourful tinsel and baubles.

According to reports, Garraway plans to hire a chef on Christmas day in order to free up time so she can look after her husband, who requires round-the-clock care.

Former spin doctor Draper returned to hospital earlier this year as he was treated for sepsis, and Garraway revealed it had been a “long battle” to get her husband back home, after his most recent visit.

Kate Garraway’s husband Derek was hospitalised after developing sepsis (ITV)

Garraway said her husband’s release was the “biggest gift”, ahead of the holidays.

A source shared that the ITV host is “doing her best to stay positive” and is “extremely grateful Derek is home to begin his New Year afresh, getting his recovery on track.”

Derek’s recovery process has been well-documented in the ITV series Kate Garraway: Finding Derek.

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