Piers Morgan has slammed trolls taking aim at Kate Garraway (Pictures: ITV/ Rex)
Piers Morgan has blasted cruel trolls who took aim at Kate Garraway after the airing of her documentary about caring for late husband Derek Draper.
Over the past three years Good Morning Britain presenter Kate, 56, had been caring for Draper after he suffered from multiple health complications after contracting Covid in 2020.
The former political advisor, who died in January at the age of 56, was the subject of the documentary Derek’s Story, which aired on Tuesday night.
It followed the final year of his life, with Kate also exploring the huge impact of what being a carer entails.
After tuning in, Piers shared a message of support for his former colleague.
‘The final Kate Garraway film about her beloved Derek was heart-breaking, inspiring, and utterly maddening. Our care system is so broken, yet staffed by so many wonderful people. Let Derek’s legacy be a wholesale reformation of the way we treat our sick/elderly. RIP Derek,’ he posted on X.
The Good Morning Britain presenter’s documentary Derek’s Story aired this week (Picture: ITV)
However, after one person said ‘many families have had to go through the same and do not have the platform or exposure to speak out’ the broadcaster hit out.
‘The whole point of the film was to shine a light on the care system, and help so many others suffering from its failures. Kate used her profile to magnificently powerful effect and deserves our gratitude not sniping. She’s a brilliant woman who’s been through 4yrs of utter hell,’ he shared.
Responding to a now-deleted comment from another user who suggested long Covid was a ‘money making scam’ and slammed Kate’s books and documentaries about her husband’s health, Piers was incensed.
‘I hope you never suffer what Derek suffered, you heartless f***ing moron,’ he wrote.
Piers criticised those who posted cruel comments (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Draper’s health struggles were previously documented in award-winning films Finding Derek and Caring For Derek, as well as through books The Power of Hope and The Strength of Love.
In the documentary, Kate also shared how she was facing astronomical debts following the death of her husband.
Draper spent nearly 100 days in a coma and remained in need of round-the-clock care until he died, both from medical professionals and his loved ones at home.
Kate had their family home adapted once Draper was discharged from hospital but has now detailed the costs of doing so, estimating her debts to be between £500,000-£800,000.
The pair previously worked together on Good Morning Britain (Picture: Ken McKay/ ITV/ REX/ Shutterstock)
She’s also said the £16,000 monthly cost of her husband’s care was more than her salary from ITV.
‘I am in debt. I can’t earn enough money to cover my debt because I am managing Derek’s care and I can’t even use the money I do have to support Derek’s recovery because it’s going on the basics all the time,’ she said.
She added: ‘I’m not going to pretend that I am poorly paid, I have an incredible job that I love, which is well-paid, but it’s not enough.’
Former Labour insider and psychotherapist Draper married presenter Kate in 2005 and they went on to welcome children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14.
Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story is streaming on ITVX.
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