British television presenter Kate Garraway has made an emotional and candid admission about the financial strain she’s under following the death of her husband, Derek Draper. Speaking publicly, Kate revealed she is now facing between £500,000 and £800,000 in debt, largely tied to the extensive care Derek needed before he passed away in January 2024.
Derek Draper, a former political adviser turned psychotherapist, battled long-term complications from COVID-19 beginning in 2020. As his condition worsened, Kate brought his care home, managing his medical needs privately after delays in receiving public support, reported the Manchester Evening News.
Despite having a full-time broadcasting career, Kate said trying to “balance the budget” has been “definitely tough.” At a recent awards event, she highlighted how quickly care-related costs spiraled out of control—even for someone with steady employment.
It’s been reported that the cost of Derek’s care reached approximately £16,000 per month. On top of that, Kate is now responsible for paying off a significant tax debt linked to her late husband’s company, Astra Aspera. A recent liquidator’s report listed a £288,000 liability owed to the UK’s tax authority, a sum that was originally more than £700,000. She has already made payments toward it, but still has a long way to go.
In an earlier television interview, Kate confronted the UK Health Secretary directly, calling her financial burden “excessive and unpayable.” She revealed that her applications for public care funding were delayed or denied, leaving her to shoulder all of Derek’s medical and home care costs on her own.
The minister responded with an acknowledgment that the current system is failing too many families. He admitted that long-term solutions, like a publicly funded National Care Service, are still years away, with reforms likely not arriving until 2028.
A spokesperson for Kate confirmed that she has been fully cooperative throughout the process, staying in regular contact with tax officials and the liquidators managing Derek’s business affairs.
The situation has struck a chord with many people in the UK who are caring for loved ones under difficult circumstances. Kate’s story sheds light on how even those with public profiles and resources can struggle with the hidden financial weight of caregiving.
Don’t Miss These:
- Kate Garraway Reveals Financial Struggles After Husband’s Long Illness
- Behind the Palace Doors: The Promise That Rebuilt William and Kate’s Bond
- Lorraine Leaves Viewers in Stitches with Live Hair Extension Reveal
- Eamonn Holmes Breaks Silence on Life and Love After Ruth Langsford Divorce
- UK Considers Denmark’s Controversial ‘Ghetto’ Strategy to Disperse Migrant Communities
