Television presenter Kate Garraway is currently in a "strange bubble of her own numbness of grief" following her husband Derek Draper's death, an ITV co-star has said.
The former political adviser died after a near-four-year-long health battle following a bout of Covid back in 2020.
Coronavirus left Draper hospitalised and induced in a coma in April 2020 until October of the same year and although he was Covid-free soon after, the damage caused by the virus left him with a number of health issues.
Just before Christmas 2023, Draper suffered a heart attack which prompted Garraway to take a leave of absence from work duties and he died just a few weeks later.
Speaking on Thursday, Garraway's friend and colleague Ben Shepherd shared an update on Garraway and how she's coping almost a week on from her spouse's death.
"I've been stopped by people in the street," Shepherd began. "I was stopped by a woman who sadly lost her father that day who'd been suffering for a long time with dementia.
Ben Shepherd provided an update on Kate Garraway on Thursday
ITV
"And she said, 'My dad's been ill for about the same period as Derek has, it's a very different condition but we've watched Kate and her family and the courage that they've shown to go through the last nearly four years...'
"Then he had passed away not long after Derek had and she said it's been such a power of strength to watch her [Garraway] and to see her keep going because you have to keep going.
"Stories like that and messages like that that I've received... has been so overwhelming. I just can't explain how important that has been for her, all the way over the past four years.
"To know that there is so much support for what she's been through and what she's shared - and that's been a really big decision to share that - has had an impact."
Sharing what Garraway has told him directly in recent days, Shepherd went on: "She says she's sort of in a strange bubble of her own numbness of grief at the moment.
"She, Billy and Darcey are hunkering down together. Her amazing mum and dad have been with them who are just remarkable, so she's got all the right people around her.
"She wanted everybody to know she will be back when she can," the Good Morning Britain star continued. "They're in the next stages of what happens, there's a lot of admin to do when you lose somebody.
"In that brilliant way yesterday she said, 'I had to go out because I had to register the death', do the official things...
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Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper died earlier this month
GETTY IMAGES"So she said to the kids, said to Darcey, 'I'm gonna have to go out to do this, I'm gonna have to go out the house,' which is a big thing. And Darcey said, 'Mum, I know this is gonna be really hard but can I make one suggestion, please?'
"'Can you take the Christmas jumper off and brush your hair?' And there's this brilliant moment where Kate just burst out laughing because as she said to me, the clocks stopped just before Christmas when Derek had that heart attack, and she's just starting to come out of that."
Earlier this week, Garraway released a seprate statement in which she thanks fans for their support following Draper's death and hoped they could "forgive" her as she takes time away from the spotlight.
Garrayway said: "Hello everyone. Thank you so much for all the wonderful messages that you have sent me. It really does mean so much to me, Darcey, Billy and all of Derek’s family.
"They are an extraordinary comfort and I’m so lucky to feel connected to you all through these messages at this time when the raw pain of grief can be so isolating.
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"And that is the wonderful thing, isn’t it, about our Good Morning Britain family? That all of us on the team and all of you watching from home are connected, supporting each other through the challenges of life, knowing that we can also laugh at the fun and joys together that we share too.
"I am certain that it is the support that you have given me and sent to Derek that has sustained us through these tough nearly four years, motivating us to fight on for each other and for those who can’t fight for themselves and it will sustain us to continue that fight in the weeks and months and years to come.
"I look forward to waking up with you very soon again on Good Morning Britain to celebrate life in all its wonder and challenge again.
“I hope you forgive me for taking some time to be at home. My family is so grateful that we could be with our dearest Derek in his final moments – something not all get to share.
“Maybe you too are going through grief yourself or have done in the past. I send love and support for you too.We are taking time to heal ourselves now that Darcey and Billy know their daddy is at peace and free from pain and struggle.
“I shall be thinking of you all until we are reunited very soon. In the meantime, hug your loved ones close. All my love, Kate.”