Kate Garraway gives major update on husband Derek Draper's health and reveals son Billy, 13, broke down in tears following 'uplifting' development

Kate Garraway has given a major update on her husband Derek Draper’s health.

Appearing on Loose Women on Thursday, the GMB host, 56, was asked by host Linda Robson whether Derek, 55, could speak, leading to the update.

The author and former lobbyist was left close to death on several occasions since he caught Covid at the start of the pandemic in March 2020, and is now confined to a wheelchair and has been learning to speak again – but requires 24/7 care at home.

She revealed: ‘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.’

An honour: Kate Garraway has given a major update on her husband Derek Draper’s health

Details: Appearing on Loose Women on Thursday, the GMB host, 56, was asked by host Linda Robson whether Derek, 55, could speak, leading to the update

Kate also spoke about returning to the show after her 2021 documentary aired, saying: ‘It’s a strange one really. last time I was on here, just got back from jungle, we were planning on renewing our vows….

‘In a matter of weeks, we were in that unfolding drama. It feels like forever ago but it could’ve been just yesterday. in some levels everyone’s lives have changed dramatically, but for me I’m still living the scenes you see in the documentary’.

Back in April, Derek’s smiling return home from hospital gave fresh hope to his family and friends – three years after his body was first ravaged by Covid-19 and sepsis.

In depth: She shed light on the situation in front of her colleagues

Looking at it: Derek receives round-the-clock care at home, funded by Kate

Derek was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition, later entering a coma. Days later Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed ‘mild symptoms’.

She said at the time: ‘Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I’m afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time. I’m afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.’

The following month his health deteriorated further.

Kate said at the time: ‘The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight. But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.’

That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers. She said: ‘I’ll never give up on that because Derek’s the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty’.

Sweet: Kate is pictured with Billy and her daughter Darcey

Shock: On June 5 2020, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body

On June 5 2020, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body and a month later she revealed Derek had woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition.

Three days later she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to ‘get on with life’ during Derek’s recovery.

She added that Derek had ‘opened his eyes’ after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years.

Tragically, due to the pandemic, Kate revealed she’d paid an ‘extra emotional’ first visit to Derek, and admitted she’s ‘frustrated’ by his slow progress. He had been in hospital for three months by then.

And as GMB viewers asked for updates on his condition, she reassured them that Derek was ‘still with us,’ but it was ‘a waiting game.’

Kate and Derek pictured together in 2019,  before he fell ill