Kate Garraway defended over luxury flight amid £800,000 debt following husband Derek Draper’s death
Posted by  badge Boss on 3 weeks ago
Kate Garraway has spoken frankly about her financial woes following her husband’s death (Picture: ITV)

Fans have flocked to defend after trolls criticised her for taking a luxury , despite being hundreds of thousands of pounds in debt.

The beloved presenter, 56, sadly lost her husband in January, over three years after he first contracted Covid-19.

Kate spent that time documenting their life together and via a series of

However, the ITV star has been due to adapting their family home for his needs following Draper’s discharge from hospital, debts which she estimates to be between £500,000-£800,000.

So, when she flew first class on an Emirates plane this weekend, social media gremlins unfortunately jumped to conclusions.

Sharing her gratitude for a top-tier service, despite bad weather and delays, Kate wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of a bouquet of flowers: ‘Just landed back home after an amazing week filming – meeting some truly inspirational people (can reveal all in September). Every flight that lands safely is a good flight by me!

‘But this was exceptional. Despite storms internationally and delays the staff were calm and kind and managed to look as fresh as these flowers – even on landing. I am more resembling pot pouri but feel great! ! ! Thanks @emirates . #itsthelittlebigthings #kind #gratitude #pureclass.’

It didn’t take long for people to hit out, despite the high likelihood that the flight was paid for by the production team on her recently-announced TV project.

Thankfully, there were plenty of fans on board to set the record straight.

‘What a nasty comment from a sad little mis informed person. Shows how your mind works. Don’t judge others by your own sad little life’, blasted georginacolebourne.

‘Kate is a journalist, that’s her job, that’s how she earns money to support her family. Why do people feel it necessary to criticise her. Is she supposed to hibernate give up her job and look for something else to do to support her family!!’, commented flynn5488.

‘Some people are just vile! She’s a working mum with 2 children to raise. What is she supposed to do. Work is probably her way of dealing with her loss. I know mine was when I lost my husband of 34 years. In my prayers Kate x’, echoed kay.stride.

Derek Draper died in January, aged 56 (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

‘Kate has just lost her husband, she’s working to support her children. The flight was probably paid by the company she’s working for. Why are people so nasty with their comments. If you’re not happy don’t read the posts. Sending love to you Kate x’, wrote janecooper936.

Others told Kate that she ought to be ‘so proud’ of how she is navigating her grief, also saying they hope she had ‘time to relax’ amidst her work.

Previously, Kate revealed that the £16,000 monthly cost of was more than her salary from ITV.

In her latest documentary, she said candidly: ‘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 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.’

Kate also called out the system in the ITV programme, Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story.

Kate is £800,000 in debt after adapting her home to care for him (Picture: ITV)
The presenter has called out the care system and the lack of support offered (Picture: ITV/Kieron McCarron/REX/Shutterstock)

‘Time and time again the system tells us that Derek isn’t sick enough, doesn’t have enough of a health need to qualify for funded care.

‘I’ve appealed but that still hasn’t been processed two-and-a-half, three years later.

‘If this is what it’s like for me, what on Earth is it like for everybody else?

‘Something has to be done, or the whole service, the people working in it, everything is going to break.’

Before Draper died, Kate already owed debts above £700,000, which were incurred by his psychotherapeutic company’s failure, with Kate possessing no legal authority to administer his business affairs when he became unwell.