Kate Garraway returns to GMB after NTA win and admits she had an 'outer body experience' accepting award
Kate Garraway said she had an "out of body experience" while accepting the award for Derek's Story at the National Television Awards (NTAs) as she returned to her role on Good Morning Britain just hours later.
The presenter called the award a "total tribute" to her late husband, Derek Draper, as she received congratulations from co-hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls.
During her emotional acceptance speech, delivered alongside her children Darcey, 18, and Billy, 15, Garraway teared up and described winning the Best Authored Documentary award as "bittersweet."
Reflecting on the moment, the broadcaster admitted this morning that she questioned whether she "made any sense" while speaking on stage, as the weight of the occasion hit her and her family.
The event also came just days before what would have been her and Derek's 20th wedding anniversary.
Despite the emotional night, Garraway was back on GMB this morning, trophy in hand, ready for her regular presenting duties.
Her colleague Reid said: “Huge congratulations to you Kate, and such a wonderful speech. A total tribute to Derek.”
“A total tribute to Derek, it was his story, and to the production company who made it so beautifully for him and for all carers really,” Garraway smiled.
“I'm glad you said it was such a beautiful speech because it was such an out of body experience I came off stage [and said] ‘did I make any sense?!’
“Because it's such a strange moment and the children were lovely, so thank you.”
She added: “It's for the carers, it's for the people who are vulnerable who need the care and for the people who do the caring, the brilliant professional carers.”
On Wednesday night, Garraway dedicated her NTA to her late husband Derek Draper, calling for more support for carers as she collected her gong.
She completed a hat-trick in the best authored documentary category, winning for Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story, which followed the final year of Draper’s life before he died in January aged 56 after a lengthy battle with the long-term effects of Covid.
It followed on from two other programmes about his battle with Covid and her struggles navigating the care system, which picked up NTA gongs in the category in 2021 and 2022.
As she brought her daughter and son forward to stand beside her on stage, she reflected on how they are halfway through the first year of “firsts” without Draper, saying: “It’s so strange to be here – this one’s for you Derek, absolutely.”
The ITV star thanked her team who helped create the documentary series and praised carers across the country, saying: “This one is for all those people who care.”
She also called for a system which better supports carers, adding: “We need a system which catches us when we fall, not catches us out… I’m going to keep the fight on for all of you.”