Kate Garraway is trying to inject some fun back into her life following the sad death of her beloved husband Derek Draper – starting with The Celebrity Traitors

View 2 Images

Kate opened up ahead of appearing on The Celebrity Traitors(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Kate Garraway has admitted she’s “done a lot of crying” over the past few years as she opened up on her family challenges ahead of starring on The Celebrity Traitors, which starts next week much to the delight of fans.

The 58-year-old Good Morning Britain presenter tragically lost her beloved husband Derek Draper – who she shares children Darcey, 19, and Billy, 15, with – following a long battle with Covid in January 2024 at the age of just 56. Sharing why she decided to take part in this year’s celebrity series, Kate revealed: “I’ve been through so many challenges over the last five years.

“I’ve faced a lot of actual life and death moments – and I’ve done a lot of crying over all that’s happened to our family. It’s all been so serious. So, this feels like a chance to have fun and make a little mischief playing in what I genuinely believe is the best game on TV.”

View 2 Images

Kate with her beloved husband Derek Draper who died last January aged 56 (Image: PA)

She added: “I’m a massive fan of the show and I’ve watched all the series. When I knew I was taking part I started to watch it all again and I saw it with a different eye.

“Then I started to get pretty nervous as it can get really brutal at the Round Table can’t it, so I just decided not to over analyse and go for it. Also, I love Claudia and have worked with her on other projects, so I just know she will have me in fits of giggles and be so supportive of everyone – so that should get us through.”

Kate recently shut down rumours she was dating – even though well-meaning friends and family want nothing more than to see her loved up again – as she confessed she found the idea of being with anyone but Derek “preposterous”.

As OK! reports, she revealed she didn’t like the thought of spending “the rest of her life without love”. But she admitted that she couldn’t see herself with anyone else just yet.

She shared: “What Derek and I loved was our home life and just pottering around, and we had 21 years of that, so mentally I am still in that zone.”

A source told the Mirror that, despite her reservations, some of Kate’s friends are actively encouraging her to at least explore the possibility of dating someone new.

They claim: “There is someone who’s interested – and her friends are encouraging her just to explore that and see how it makes her feel. But Kate isn’t really ready for anything more than friendship right now. It’s still too soon, so no one is trying to force things.”

Kate will join the likes of TV presenters Alan Carr and Jonathan Ross, singers Charlotte Church, Cat Burns and Paloma Faith and comedians Lucy Beaumont, Joe Wilkinson, Nick Mohammed and Tameka Empson.

Actors Stephen Fry, Mark Bonner, Celia Imrie and Ruth Codd will also join broadcaster Clare Balding, historian and filmmaker David Olusoga, sports stars Joe Marler and Tom Daley and content creator Niko Omilana complete the 2025 celebrity line up.