Good Morning Britain‘s Kate Garraway fought back the tears as she opened up about her first Christmas without her late husband Derek Draper on Tuesday’s episode of the show.

Derek died aged 56 in January this year after a four-year battle with Covid.

On Wednesday Kate and their two children Darcey, 18, and Billy, 15, will be celebrating Christmas Day without him for the first time.

GMB host Ranvir asked Kate how she was feeling, to which Kate said: ‘It’s our first Christmas without him.

‘I’ve been talking to Andi Peters, who lost his mum, warned me that Christmas is the hardest time. I think this one will be particularly hard.

‘We’re lucky that I have family around me – my brother, distracting.

+6
View gallery

Kate Garraway opened up about his Christmas plans

+6
View gallery

Host Ranvir asked about how the family are feeling in the run up to Christmas

+6
View gallery

Kate pictured with Derek back in 2019

‘You do feel grief, that’s the point, you have memories of previous years.

‘We’re lucky enough to still have had him over the four or five years.’

Ranvir asked: ‘Was he very ill this time last year?’

‘Yes he was, he was in intensive care,’ Kate replied.

‘We were going into him in intensive care. Inside my head I did fear, this is a grim one.

‘The children, they were hopeful and he had many times.

‘It’s a tough one this year.

‘Anyone experiencing grief, it does hit you, when you feel something which is full of tradition, where you have memories, it comes back.

+6
View gallery

Kate spoke about Derek with co-hosts Ranvir and Ed Balls

+6
View gallery

Derek documented his battle with Covid in a number of ITV documentaries after contracting the virus in 2020

‘I’m thinking about everybody else that’s feeling it.’

The presenter explained that she probably won’t celebrate New Year, but will pay their respects to Derek by going to his grave.

Derek passed away on January 3 2024.

Many took to X to share their condolences Kate, Darcey and Billy.

One wrote: ‘Take care Kate.’

Another added: ‘Sending love to Kate & her family xx.’

‘Wishing you and your family the best Kate,’ a third chimed in.

Political lobbyist Derek had a long battle with Covid after contracting the virus in the height of lockdown in March 2020.

He was rushed to hospital that month and put into a coma in April, to which he then woke up from six months later.

In April 2021 he returned home, but needed full-time care.

Then in 2022 he was in hospital again after contracting sepsis, then in December last year he suffered a heart attack.

It was documented on a number of ITV documentaries.

They include Kate Garraway: Finding Derek, Kate Garraway: Caring For Derek and Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story.

Last Saturday Kate got into the festive spirit and dressed up to the nines in a glamorous dress for Piers Morgan’s Christmas party.

Kate and Derek met back in 2004 and tied the knot a year later.