Alex Beresford ‘in awe’ of Kate Garraway as Derek Draper remains in hospital

Garraway returned to Good Morning Britain in July 
ITV
Rachel McGrath30 July 2020

Alex Beresford has praised his Good Morning Britain colleague Kate Garraway for “how she’s handled herself in public” during her husband’s coronavirus fight.

Derek Draper was first hospitalised with the virus back in March and while he has since tested negative for Covid-19, he remains in hospital where he’s receiving treatment for the “extraordinary damage” caused to his entire body.

Garraway, 53, took four months off from her presenting duties when Draper was first rushed to hospital but has since returned to GMB to cover while Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan are on holiday.

Speaking to the Sun, Beresford, 39, hailed Garraway for her efforts to ensure she and her family have the energy to keep going.

Kate Garraway says 'tough couple of weeks' for her husband in coronavirus fight

He said: "It has been so uplifting for myself and the GMB family to see Kate Garraway back at the desk, and I hope it’s given her the lift she needs to keep herself, her husband Derek and the kids going.

"When it comes to our sanity, I always say nothing works unless you do. It’s so important we look after ourselves so we can look after everyone else.”

The weather presenter added that he "can’t begin to imagine what it’s been like for her,” stating: “But I have been in awe of how she’s handled herself in public – and like the true professional she is, Kate’s strength has shone."

Happily married: Garraway and Draper have two children together
Rex Features

Garraway announced her return to the show during an interview with Morgan and Reid in early July.

“I’ve got to get back to the things I’m good at,” she said. "I've been trying to keep everything going and I'm not especially different. Everyone is having to get on with sadness, grief and loss, so if I come back we're all in the same boat."

When asked what Draper would think of her decision to return to work, Garraway said he would urge her to do so, to help provide a future for their two children, Darcey and Billy.

She said: “Derek would not just be saying,’Go back.’ He would be saying: ‘Why haven’t you done it before?’

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“As he got in the ambulance he said, ‘Go inside and make them [the kids] feel safe.'

“My job now is to make them feel safe, and like they have a future and a world. And whatever happens with Derek, we hope and believe he can come back to us. To see me get on... they're going to go back to school in September."

Draper has regained consciousness after being placed into a coma by doctors, but faces an uphill battle on his road to recovery.

“What the doctors said to me is, ‘Sometimes, a day when nothing has gone backwards and nothing has gone wrong is a positive day’,” she said on Tuesday. “It’s a stable day. It’s just I’m desperate for a step forward… but it’s always lovely to see him and it’s wonderful to have the chance to do that [visit]."