Kate Garraway reveals huge health update on husband Derek as she announces new book and documentary | The Sun
KATE Garraway has revealed husband Derek is speaking in a whisper – but can't hold a conversation.
The broadcaster appeared on today's Loose Women to discuss her husband's progress as his three year battle with severe Covid complications continues.
Brave Kate announced that she's working on an untitled third documentary about Derek's illness and is also releasing a second book, The Strength of Love, later this year.
When panellist Linda Robson asked if Derek could speak, Kate said: "It's very much a whisper. I don't think we're necessarily going to have a conversation, but you get fantastic moments.
"Billy had a new basketball and was bouncing it, and he said 'is that new ball?' He said: 'It's nice'.
"Seeing him able to was amazing. Billy was in tears; they were hugging. It's things like that that really lift you up, and the next day he was really still."
READ MORE ON KATE GARRAWAY
Kate Garraway reveals huge update on husband Derek’s health after Covid battle
Kate Garraway left red faced after BBC star bursts in on her on the loo
There was another big reason to be cheerful recently when Kate took Derek to see Elton John at London's O2 after being invited by the man himself.
Kate said: "We've got some positive things with Derek, even though the struggles are the same. I took a decision in January, we can't keep trying to get rid of the bad stuff, we've got to fill our days with loads of good stuff.
"We take him out on walks. We had an extraordinary moment that I never thought would happen, we managed to take him out to see Elton John. His team were brilliant, the O2 was brilliant, the carers that came with me were amazing."
Derek's condition took a turn for the worse an hour before the gig, leaving Kate to question if they should go.
Most read in News TV
BGT semi-finalist dies aged 38 as Strictly pros pay tribute to 'beautiful soul'
Inside Holly Willoughby & Amanda Holden's feud & why they don't get along
BBC axes TWO more shows with celebrity hosts in latest programming shake-up
Award-winning BBC sitcom with beloved star returning to screens next month
But when she put the question to Derek, he was determined to make it.
Kate cast her mind back to her last appearance on Loose Women in 2020, before Derek suffered life-changing effects after contracting Covid.
She said: "The last time I was on the show was the beginning of 2020. Derek and I were going to renew our vows. It was very happy. In a matter of weeks we were in this unfolding drama.
"It feels like forever ago, and just yesterday.
"I'm still living the scenes you see in the documentary. I've decided to do another documentary. I've written a book, nearly finished, which is coming out in September.
"The publishers have been very good because it was supposed to be out last year and I just couldn't complete it.
"Everything was just too much and also, having written the first one, The Power Of Hope, which was all about Covid which we were all experiencing at the time, I felt we'd all moved on and actually we're living a different kind of chaos now. There's a lot more anger around and frustration. A lot of people feel quite betrayed and desperate.
"I didn't want to write a book about the low times, I wanted to get to a place where it can be really positive and share some of the things I've learned to get through it."
Last month we revealed Kate was being hounded for £716,000 by the taxman after being forced to close down Derek's family business.
The Good Morning Britain presenter is facing the six-figure bill when she’s already struggling with the emotional strain and huge cost of caring for him.
The pursuit of Kate is in stark contrast to the way HMRC has failed to recover billions from the fraudsters who stole from Covid support schemes.
The final bill facing Kate, 56, will be battled out in the coming weeks, but friends close to the star insist she will shell out every penny once a final figure is agreed.
A pal said: “The figures are terrifying and Kate is of course worried about all the financial pressures, but she has to trust the process.
“When it comes to an end, she is determined to pay back anything that’s owed.
“It’s no secret that Kate has been battling to keep her husband alive and working through some heartbreaking situations in her personal life in recent years.
“Sadly, as well as the emotional stress of Derek’s terrible illnesses, the financial burden has also been crippling.
“Not only has the family lost one of its primary earners but in addition, the cost of caring for Derek has taken an enormous toll financially.
“One of the most complicated financial situations facing Kate was Derek’s company which she has eventually managed to get closed down with liquidators now in charge of resolving all the financial matters.”
The bill relates to Astera Aspera Ltd, a firm set up in December 2011, providing psychotherapy and other services which was once solely run by Kate’s psychotherapist husband, Derek, 55.
The company was forced into liquidation in march of last year and HMRC estimated it owed £124,000 in taxes.
Now, despite not having seen the accounts, they’ve come up with a figure almost six times higher.
Derek was hospitalised with Covid in March 2020 and placed into an induced coma while his body fought one of the worst reactions to disease ever seen.
It was over a year before he could return home to Kate and their two children, and as he struggles with mobility and speaking, still needs round the clock care as he makes a slow recovery.
Kate became one of the directors of the firm when Derek fell ill and last year she wound up the business as she struggled to look after her husband, and children as well as her TV work.
Kate’s friends said: “Derek’s company had to be put into liquidation sadly last year, at that point it had debts of £124,000.
“HMRC have now submitted an estimated figure of £716,822 to the liquidators which has come as a surprise to all involved, because they haven’t yet viewed the company accounts.”
“The liquidators are preparing to submit the accounts and are managing the process with HMRC.”
The stand-off between Kate and the HMRC comes after the tax office was told by MPs it had to ramp up its drive to get back billions in taxes dodged during the pandemic.
Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the public accounts committee, last month said they shouldn’t harm vulnerable businesses hard hit by Covid, but should target opportunistic big fish.
She said: “HMRC’s challenges chasing down high-wealth individuals and companies who take advantage of every trick in the book to avoid and evade tax and outrun the law are well-known.
“Those tricks are just not available to ordinary people.
Read more on The Sun
Our road is so full of pot holes I have to take pain killers after driving home
Home Bargains shoppers are rushing to buy ‘brilliant’ £20 summer essential
"HMRC must push much harder at the doors of those who are not paying their fair share.”
Kate Garraway's representatives were contact but declined to comment.
Source: Read Full Article