Kate Garraway asks fans to vote for Finding Derek at the NTAs

Kate Garraway makes emotional plea to fans to vote for her documentary Finding Derek at the NTAs ‘to highlight the thousands that have lost lives’ during Covid-19 pandemic

Kate Garraway has asked TV viewers to vote for her documentary Finding Derek ahead of the National Television Awards on Thursday.

The TV presenter’s documentary, which charts her husband’s battle with coronavirus, is nominated in the Authored Documentary category.

Kate, 53, admitted she considered not attending the ceremony until a woman stopped her in the street and told how her much the programme meant to her.

Emotional: Kate Garraway has asked TV viewers to vote for her documentary Finding Derek ahead of the National Television Awards on Thursday

Sharing an image from the documentary that showed herself and Derek on their wedding day, Kate said she is ‘very proud’ of the show.    

She wrote: ‘Have been feeling very torn about asking you to vote for our documentary #FindingDerek’s nomination for @officialntas tomorrow. 

‘I am very proud of it but felt I shouldn’t be asking for more from you. I have even wondered if I shouldn’t go to such a sparkling event and take time away from the family who need me now more than ever. But a stranger just changed my mind! 

‘She was walking past our house & called out “hope you win”. I thanked her but said didn’t think we would as so many good ones in the category & I hadn’t been campaigning for votes as others have. She looked horrified. 

Film: The TV presenter’s documentary, which charts her husband’s battle with coronavirus, is nominated in the Authored Documentary category

‘”But you must” she said “my sister died from Covid damage two weeks ago. Her heart had been ruined by the virus last summer. She watched your documentary and it gave her so much hope.” It broke my heart. 

‘So now I am asking you to vote please – not for me but to highlight the thousands that have lost lives and livelihoods to covid, and to the thousands more that battle on devastated by it. 

‘Also for the millions of others who are facing terrible diagnoses of any illness , the tortuous wait for treatment as our NHS strains to cope.

‘It would be wonderful if your vote meant they felt less forgotten and helped me to fight on for them.’

Candid: Kate, 53, admitted she considered not attending the ceremony until a woman stopped her in the street and told how her much the programme meant to her

Kate received an outpouring of support from fans, with one writing: ‘You have my vote Kate! You are an absolute inspiration. How you manage to parent two children, work numerous jobs and take care of derek is an absolute triumph!! 

‘Keep going you do an amazing job, and you deserve more than NTA in my book!! Absolute legend that you are. Keep strong and keep going you will get Derek back’.

Another wrote: ‘Both my wife and I have voted for your documentary. She said “women are like teabags” stick us in water to see how strong we become. She’s spot on. You’re amazing. Hope Derek and the kids are doing well. Stay strong’.

Another fan added: ‘And you must get all dressed up and go! It’s so important to get out and enjoy yourself. And to take time for you. So much is resting on you. Its vital you stay well and up for it.’

Reaction: Kate received an outpouring of support from fans, with one writing: ‘You have my vote Kate! You are an absolute inspiration’

Finding Derek is nominated alongside Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, Marcus Rashford: Feeding Britain’s Children, Katie Price: Harvey and Me and Rob Burrow: My Year With MND. 

The documentary became ITV’s most-watched factual programme in three years, after 4.5 million viewers tuned into the moving programme when it aired in March.

The presenter fronted the show documenting her husband Derek’s year-long battle with Covid-19, with viewers praising her for sharing such a candid insight in his lengthy recovery.

Kate filmed every step of Derek’s year-long battle with COVID-19 following his hospitalisation with the respiratory illness. 

Heartbreaking: Finding Derek became ITV’s most-watched factual programme in three years, after 4.5 million viewers tuned into the moving programme when it aired in March

Derek is recovering from Covid-19 and still requires round-the-clock care – with her presenter friend Clare Nasir discussing how Kate doesn’t want to ‘tempt fate’ by planning an anniversary event too far ahead.

Speaking to The Mirror, Clare, 51, explained Kate is taking ‘every day as it comes’ as ‘there are a lot of unknowns’.

She said: ‘Kate lives day to day with Derek because she doesn’t know what’s going to happen in 24 hours, let alone further along than that. 

‘I’m sure she’s got things she’d want to do, but she doesn’t want to tempt fate. That’s why her anniversary will be so bittersweet – planning is so hard. Something unexpected could happen at any moment with Derek’s condition.’

Praise: The presenter fronted the show documenting her husband Derek’s year-long battle with Covid-19, with viewers praising her for sharing such a candid insight in his lengthy recovery

Derek was released from the hospital in March this year after being first diagnosed in March 2020.

The virus wreaked havoc throughout his entire body, resulting in kidney failure, liver and pancreatic damage.

On more than one occasion his heart stopped beating, he battled bacterial pneumonia and fought multiple infections which punctured holes in his lungs.

He is considered to be the longest surviving Covid-19 patient in the country. The former lobbyist continues to recover from the illness at their London home.

Release: Derek was released from the hospital in March this year after being first diagnosed in March 2020

Kate and Derek share two children, Darcy, 15 and Billy, 12, who the doting mother was able to whisk away to Spain last month, marking their first holiday since Derek first fell ill.

However during her interview with The Mirror, Clare said Kate was ‘on a hotline to Derek the whole time’ as ‘that’s always the closest thing to her mind, wherever she is’.

Speaking last moth, Kate revealed Susanna Reid would be covering her Good Morning Britain hosting duties while she was abroad, saying: ‘Derek’s family are descending to take care of Derek while I take the kids away. I want to say a massive thank you to Susanna, she has been very kind.’

Couple: Derek is considered to be the longest surviving Covid-19 patient in the country. The former lobbyist continues to recover from the illness at their London home (pictured in December 2019)

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