Kate Garraway reveals Celebrity Traitors helped her to move on with the next chapter in her life and distracted her from the ‘worries’ of last few years

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Kate Garraway says appearing on Celebrity Traitors was a positive step forward for her as she continues to rebuild her life.

Last January, the broadcaster’s husband, Derek, sadly died after a four-year struggle with Covid-19. He was 56 years old.

I was so saddened to learn more about Kate’s situation after her husband passed away. It turns out she was left with a huge amount of debt – somewhere between £500,000 and £800,000 – all because she dedicated herself to caring for him. She’s been very brave in sharing this, and it really highlights the financial struggles people can face when becoming a caregiver.

Kate, currently a contestant on The Traitors celebrity edition, has shared that filming the show provided a helpful escape and allowed her personal reflection.

I recently had the chance to be on the cover of Prima magazine, and honestly, the whole experience was incredible! It was a real whirlwind of emotions – fun, challenging, and I learned so much about myself in the process. Definitely a rollercoaster ride, but one I wouldn’t trade for anything!

It was a great opportunity for some personal reflection. With no phones, internet, or television available, and my sister-in-law happily watching the children, I finally had some quiet time to myself.

I used gaming as a way to escape the anxieties I’d been carrying for years, but also as a chance to relax, reflect, and think about what I wanted to do next.

Kate mentioned that she and her children, Darcey, 19, and Billy, 16, make an effort to keep Derek involved in their family life.

We often talk about Derek as a family, and he’s frequently on our minds. It’s led to these odd moments where it feels like he’s almost present with us.

Honestly, it’s amazing to watch. If my Darcey, bless her, even thinks of doing something, I immediately jump in with, “What would your dad say about that?” And she doesn’t just give me a simple answer! She’ll actually work through it, saying something like, “Well, he’d probably think this, but honestly, I disagree because of that.” It’s like she’s having a whole internal debate with him, and it’s just… incredible. She really knows his thinking, but isn’t afraid to challenge it. It’s beautiful, truly.

I appreciate that dynamic because it allows him to remain connected, while also letting her develop her own independence and express herself.

She explained that, beyond their family connection, she often feels like she’s hearing Derek’s thoughts in her own head, as if he’s constantly on her mind as a husband.

I really don’t want to disappoint him, but I’m sure he’d be proud of everything we’ve accomplished.

Kate looked stunning on the cover of Prima magazine, wearing several vibrant red outfits for Christmas.

She wore a stunning red gown made of flowing chiffon, adorned with jewels. The dress had a dramatic plunging neckline, a very full, layered tulle skirt, and a sparkling sequin belt.

Kate wore a high-waisted midi skirt made of shiny satin, along with a sheer, metallic blouse tied with a large bow.

Kate also verged away from red for her final looked in a silver and gold form-fitting sequin gown. 

She paired the dress with a sheer cream shawl, featuring sequins and a feather lining. 

Following Kate’s recent admission that she’s been through a lot of sadness since her husband Derek passed away, she decided to participate in Celebrity Traitors as a way to enjoy herself and have some fun.

Kate explained she decided to appear on the next season of Celebrity Traitors because she wanted to do something enjoyable and take a break from her usual routine.

The past five years have been incredibly difficult. She’s dealt with some truly life-threatening situations and has cried a lot over everything our family has gone through. It’s been a very serious and emotional time.

I’m really excited for this – it’s a great opportunity to have some fun and stir things up while competing in what I truly think is the best game show on television.

After her husband passed away, Kate revealed she was left with debts ranging from £500,000 to £800,000 due to the costs of his care.

It’s just… heartbreaking. Not only are they still dealing with the massive bills – sixteen THOUSAND pounds a month just to keep Derek comfortable – but a new report shows his practice, Astra Aspera, owed a ton in taxes before it sadly closed down. It’s just more and more stress on top of everything else, and I can’t believe he was dealing with all of this while trying to help others. It’s awful!

Kate’s company collapsed while owing a significant amount of money – hundreds of thousands of pounds – to its creditors, including a substantial debt to the tax authority, HMRC.

Kate is working hard to promote her projects while also facing mounting debts, but this isn’t the first time she’s struggled with financial difficulties.

In 2012, two other firms jointly controlled by Derek and Kate went bust.

Fulfill Media Ltd had total debts of £922,807. This included £88,486 owed to the tax authority (HMRC), £90,882 to suppliers, and £462,808 in loans from other sources.

Countrymouse Media Ltd. recently went out of business with debts totaling £189,121. This included £98,944 owed to the tax authorities and £48,000 from an overdrawn loan taken by the company’s directors. Derek and Kate, who were involved with the business, were each personally owed £24,000.

The December 2025 issue of Prima is on sale from 29 October 

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2025-10-29 03:34