KATE Garraway broke down in tears live on TV as she dedicated her National Television Award to her late husband Derek Draper tonight.
Presenter Kate, 57, became overcome with emotion after winning in the Authored Documentary category for her ITV documentary, Derek’s Story.
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Joined by her children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 11, and the programme’s crew on stage, she said: “I really genuinely did not expect this, goodness me.
“This is a bittersweet one isn’t it? It’s very bitter to be here, with the gorgeous Darcey and Billy.
“I promised them they didn’t have to say anything. We’re halfway through the first year of firsts really.
“A first Easter and first birthdays, without Derek. It’s so strange to be here for the first Television Awards without him.”
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The Good Morning Britain anchor, whose spouse Derek died aged 56 in January, recently revealed the heartbreaking “backlash” she endured over the documentary.
The ITV star opened up on being subject to the sickening trolling centred on the show, which documented his battle with Covid as well as shining a light on the essential work of carers.
Kate opened up on the heart-wrenching documentary being nominated for an NTA this year.
She said on the morning programme: “I really hope people vote for it as well – it’s a different category from you Martin, so no competition there.”
She added: “I got such a lot of backlash for doing it [the documentary] from people going ‘stop going on about this.’
“But actually I realised I am letting people down for not mentioning it.”
Kate then flagged one of her fans Tim, who had approached her outside the Smooth Radio studios urging her “please don’t give up” as she shines the spotlight on unpaid carers.
The mum of two told how he added: “Please make sure people vote, because it helps us all.”
Derek tragically died in January after a brave four year battle with coronavirus and its life-changing complications.
The touching documentary detailed the months before his passing and aired earlier this year.
In the scenes, the former political lobbyist said: “My name’s Derek Draper.”
With his voice barely above a whisper, he continued: “I want you to hear my story.”
Sitting by his bedside, Kate said: “You’ve written ‘Covid changed everything’. Do you mean that for you?”
Derek simply said: “Yeah.”
It finished with Kate asking the fateful question: “Where’s this story going to end?”
Other episodes saw Derek’s sheer frustration as he branded himself “pathetic” for failing to gey out of his wheelchair.
Kate said her final farewell to late spouse Derek at his funeral in February.
Yet she has continued in her steadfast dedication to fly the flag for unpaid carers.
This comes as she battles her own financial difficulties of Derek’s care debts.
The ITV stalwart told how she was looking into withdrawing cash from her pension early to pay for the spiralling medical bills.
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