Kate Garraway gives rare insight into marriage amid Derek's recovery

Kate Garraway has shared what she misses about husband Derek Draper after their life was changed by coronavirus.

Derek, 54, was struck down by the virus last March and went on to s pend more than a year in hospital after being place in an induced coma as Covid "wreaked havoc" on his body.

The former political advisor suffered serious complications, including brain inflammation as well as damage to his lungs, heart, kidneys and liver.

He is now at home with Kate and their two children, Darcey, 15, and Billy, 11, where he receives round-the-clock care.

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And now Kate, also 54, has admitted to longing for the "small things" they shared before the pandemic hit.

"I would give everything I own to hear him being really shouty and full of opinions, ruffling feathers in the way that he used to," she said in an interview with Celia Walden in the Sunday Telegraph's Stella magazine.

She also said she missed "the way he wouldn’t be able to do anything until he’d had his bath. The way he would sing so loudly in the mornings – and was generally just so loud! It would drive me mad."

Kate went on to say that when Derek would irritate her, she'd ask: "Why did you have to do that?"

To which he would reply: "Darling, I’m the grit in your oyster."

The Good Morning Britain presenter also said she hasn't drunk alcohol since before the pandemic.

"I haven’t drunk at all since Derek went into hospital, because I felt I had to keep my wits about me," she said.

"It’s a strange thing feeling you’re basically on duty 24/7. But I’m not complaining."

Last month Kate gave GMB viewers a positive update on her husband’s condition, saying he "understands everything."

"His eyes lit up," she said. "We are very clear now that he does understand everything really, and understands everything that I tell him about.

"He can’t respond still and communicate, and Derek’s been having lots more tests of things. We went to hospital a few weeks ago, (which was) the first time he’d seen medics outside of the home."

She then explained what the tests involved following his long battle with the virus.

"(They) asked him to hold his breath and release his breath, he asked absolutely everything they asked of him,” Kate said.

"Also just reactions to things and reactions to the children, his responses are appropriate. It does really feel that way as if he is reacting," she added.

It came after Kate picked up a National Television Award for her documentary on Derek's recovery.

The audience of famous faces from the small screen stood to applaud a visibly emotional Kate after she was announced as the winner of the factual gong before dedicating the award to her husband.

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