Good Morning Britain’s Charlotte Hawkins hails Kate Garraway an ‘absolute trooper’ after harrowing few years

Charlotte Hawkins has praised Kate Garraway for being an “absolute trooper” after a tough year.

Kate – who is fronting Good Morning Britain today alongside her co-star Rob Rinder – has had a tragic year after losing her husband Derek Draper, who passed away two years after he was diagnosed with Covid. During a chat at the TRIC Awards this week, Charlotte heaped praise on her co-star after a heartbreaking few years.

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror on the TRIC Awards this week, she said: “It’s nice for us all to be able to have a chance to get together because we’re not all on at the same time. It’s really lovely when we can sit round a table together and have a catch up. She’s been an absolute trooper, she’s gone through so much and my heart goes out to her.

“She knows we’re all there for her in any way she needs. We’re so full of love and admiration. She’s just coped with everything so brilliantly and we know how hard things have been for her. She’s surrounded by love.”

Charlotte has heaped praise on Kate in the past, describing the “constant pain” she must feel, as she admits it will take time to heal.

“She wanted to be strong for Derek and the family. It’s love that keeps you going and gets you through situations like that – love for the person you’re caring for, for your family that you need to be strong for and for the people around you who are helping to support you. When you lose someone you love very much, it’s a constant pain,” she said.

“You wonder what the way forward will be, and it’s not a question of getting over it, but learning to live with it. It’s going to take time for Kate to heal, but she knows we’re all here for her.”

Kate shared a heartbreaking post earlier this year where she confirmed Derek had died. In a lengthy Instagram post, she wrote: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.

“As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications. Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.”

She added: “For now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible. Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.”