OHMYGOSSIP — Kate Garraway has “been through hell and back” while caring for her late husband Derek Draper.
Derek passed away this week at the age of 56 after over three years of ill-health since contracting COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic in 2020 and TV star Kate has been praised for juggling caring for Derek with maintaining her presenting career.
An insider told The Sun newspaper: “Kate has been through hell and back — and, by virtue of her career, it’s all been played out in the public domain.
“The strength of character and courage she’s shown, quite simply, is indescribable.
“Poor Derek and Kate became the unwitting poster couple of COVID— something absolutely no one could ever have foretold four years ago.
“Their battle inspired millions of Brits who were hit by this killer virus, and provided comfort in times of darkness. To say Kate has been a trouper is an understatement.
“She would come into work, every single day, after three hours of broken sleep, plaster on a smile, and sit in make-up having her heartbroken, tear-stained face covered with studio make-up. It was truly remarkable.
“Not once has she said ‘woe is me’ — she was so, so brave for the sake of Derek and her children.
“The only comfort for the family now is that brave, fearless Derek is no longer in pain. That is bringing enormous solace — as is the kindness of strangers and public outpouring she’s received.”
Kate announced Derek’s death with a moving post on her Instagram page.
She wrote: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away. As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications. Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.”
Kate praised the medical teams who “fought so hard to save” her husband – who she has daughter Darcy, 17, and son Billy, 14, with – and made his final moments “as comfortable and dignified as possible”.
She added: “I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible. Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life. (sic)”
Derek spent 13 months in hospital making him Britain’s longest suffering coronavirus victim, and his health battle had left him with long-lasting organ damage and requiring 24/7 care at home.
Kate, 56, made two award-winning documentaries on her family’s experience living with the changes in Derek’s health.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Chris Taylor has signed up for ‘Love Island: All Stars’.
The 33-year-old reality TV star – who dated ‘Love Island’ co-star Maura Higgins for six months before splitting in May 2021 and landed a cameo in the ‘Barbie’ movie thanks to ‘Love Island’ superfan Margot Robbie – will be looking for love on the new series.
A source told MailOnline: “Chris is a great signing for the new series.
“His personality has really shone since he found fame on Love Island while when he was on the series as a late addition, he didn’t have enough opportunity to really show the viewers what he’s all about.
“Now he’s a star in his own right on TikTok and Instagram, not to mention his role in the Barbie film and being mates with Margot Robbie.
“Chris is hoping he can find a girlfriend, he met his last one on the show, so there’s nothing stopping him from doing the same during All Stars.”
‘Love Island: All Stars’, presented by Maya Jama, begins on Monday January 15 and will see Islanders from the past date each other at a villa in South Africa.
Other reported contestants include Elma Pazar and Georgia Steel, while Olivia Attwood is expected to make a cameo appearance.
It replaces winter ‘Love Island’, which was scrapped after it failed to match the same ratings as the summer season.
Chris previously revealed how he landed a ‘Barbie’ role after meeting Margot at the ‘Birds of Prey’ afterparty.
He told Cosmopolitan UK: “The lads [fellow Islanders Michael Griffiths and Jordan Hames] had gone to the ‘Birds of Prey’ premiere, and they came back saying how they’d met Margot on the red carpet, and Margot was gassed to see them. We were sat around talking about it when someone got a message saying Margot wanted us all to come to the afterparty. I was actually in bed, but I said I’d come as how often do you get to met Margot Robbie?
“She’s just really down to earth and cool. She’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.”
Speaking about his ‘Barbie’ audition, he said: “I was fully convinced it was a prank. These YouTubers, they’re clever, they’ll write full on contracts and do the prank video. But I pulled up at Warner Brothers and saw Ryan Gosling walked past my car and I thought ‘this definitely isn’t a prank’.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Harlan Coben says ‘Fool Me Once’ is Richard Armitage’s best work.
Richard has now starred in three adaptations of Coben’s books for Netflix and the author believes the latest series showcases his talents.
He told RadioTimes.com: “It’s become a thing now that this is the third time that Richard’s worked with us, it’s become kind of a fun thing, but we’re really conscious of it not being a device or for the sake of doing it.
“It only works if we can find a role for Richard that’s going to be… I don’t like when I watch a show and I see the same actor, and so I’m thinking of him in the other role. So if you thought as you’re watching him, ‘Oh that’s Adam Price from ‘The Stranger’, it wouldn’t work.
“But Richard’s such a terrific actor, and the roles he’s playing on these shows are so different, the three he’s now played on ‘Stay Close’, ‘The Stranger’ and now ‘Fool Me Once’. I think it works.
“This might be, even though it’s his smallest role in terms of screen time, it might be his best job. He’s really good. That last episode, without giving anything away, the scene in the park is just great.
“I was like, ‘Richard, you’re going somewhere on that.’ He’s such a hard-working actor, we’ve all become friends with him, but that’s sort of what we do.
“We want to make sure it’s not being cute, having him on in a cameo or whatever. The universe of our shows really loves Richard, he’s got a great fan following that loves him.”
The series stars Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern, a former military helicopter pilot who is struggling in the wake of her husband Joe’s death, with Richard playing the role of Joe.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Claudia Winkleman wishes she was “cooler”.
The 51-year-old TV presenter likes to be in bed by 8:30pm and admitted she wishes she was up for partying more.
She told The Telegraph: “I wish I was cooler – out drinking a tequila in a knee-high boot – but the fact is that I like to be putting on Cannaray Hand Rescue and getting in bed by about 8.30pm. I asked for a crochet set for my 18th birthday, this has always been where I was headed.
“I like the little one in bed by eight-ish with a book. Then my daughter will go out and see friends. My husband and I get into bed and read. ‘Demon Copperhead’ [by Barbara Kingsolver] is by my bed, and so is Robert Galbraith, ‘The Silkworm’.”
Claudia also admitted she has such a low tolerance to alcohol that she need a nap at her own wedding after half a glass of wine.
She said: “If there’s been a big sit-down lunch, for supper we’ll probably stand around and eat leftovers. I don’t really drink. I’d like to be a person who can, but I had to have a nap at my own wedding because I had half a glass of wine.”
Claudia has been married to film producer Kris Thykier since 2000 and the couple have three children Jake, 20, Matilda, 17, and Arthur, 12.
Along with reading and relaxing at home, Claudia also loves a game of bridge with her family.
She said: “My husband and I are obsessed by bridge. We’ve taught the kids baby bridge, so we play that for hours quite competitively. I have been told that I’ve got to stop trying to make the 12-year-old cry, which I take on board.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Alexander Armstrong has been unmasked on ‘The Masked Singer’.
The 53-year-old TV star – who is perhaps best-known for hosting ‘Pointless’, the BBC game show – has become the latest celebrity to leave the ITV series.
Asked why he decided to appear on the show after he was unmasked, Alexander replied: “I’ve been longing to do it for ages.
“Every year, I’m always getting messages like, ‘Are you Traffic Cone?’ and I say, ‘Maybe’.”
Despite his exit, Alexander confessed to loving his time on ‘The Masked Singer’.
The TV star – who was dressed as a chicken caesar – also admitted that some of the hints about his identity were tenuous.
Reflecting on the experience, he said: “I’ve loved it. It’s the beginning of the journey and the end of the journey. But what a journey it has been!”
Meanwhile, Joel Dommett – who hosts ‘The Masked Singer’ – previously claimed that the new series would feature “some of the best vocalists” in the history of the show.
The 38-year-old TV presenter insisted that the standard would be even higher than usual.
Joel said: “I think we’ve definitely got some of the best vocalists we’ve ever had on the show and we’ve had some really incredible ones in the past.
“The show goes through an interesting meandering of, we are all here for all the new characters, but then maybe the better singers start to get through in the last rounds, usually the final.
“Let’s be honest, it’s usually really incredible singers left at that point. This year I really do feel like we’ve got some of the best we’ve ever had.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Ellie Leach has broken her ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ trophy.
The former ‘Coronation Street’ actress scooped the Glitterball Trophy with professional partner Vito Coppola just a few weeks ago but she’s already damaged the plastic replica, which she gets to keep, after some of the delicate plastic writing snapped off.
Fortunately, the 22-year-old star’s dad was able to come to her rescue.
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper’s TV Biz column: “Ellie was gutted that she hasn’t been able to show off her trophy after so many of her friends are desperate to hold it.
“Luckily Ellie’s dad Al is good at fixing things so she gave it to him to put back together.
“It is her prized possession and she can’t wait to put it up in the house.”
Ellie previously credited the show for having “changed” her life forever.
She gushed on Instagram following her win: “When i started Strictly I was nervous and shy.
“I had no self confidence or self belief and I was completely a glass half empty type of person. Always finding the negatives in every situation, focusing on the lows instead of the highs, worrying and overthinking about every single thing, mostly things that were out of my control.
“Signing up for Strictly, i knew it was going to be hard, i didn’t know how hard it would be. I knew I was going to have fun, i didn’t know just how much fun i would have.
“I’ve said it before and i’m honestly not saying this to be dramatic but Strictly has changed my life.
“I’m now a yes person. This experience has taught me that giving your best is all you can ask of yourself, worrying about things that are out of your control isn’t going to stop them from happening.
“Saying no because you’re scared is taking away an opportunity from yourself that could end up being great. I am stronger, more resilient and more confident.
“I have learnt that it’s okay to be kind to yourself when you’re having bad days and good days and i have learnt to cherish every single second of life because you will really see the joy it can bring…
“This win is for everyone who feels like they’re not good enough. You are enough. Please be kinder to yourselves and have more belief and find joy in the little things. (sic)”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Kate Garraway and Derek Draper faced a gruelling 12-hour flight back to the UK after he suffered a cardiac arrest weeks before he died.
The ‘Good Morning Britain’ presenter’s beloved husband passed away in a London hospital last week, after his health took a turn for the worse while they were in Mexico for the psychotherapist – who suffered severe organ damage and other health problems after contracting COVID-19 in March 2020 – to receive specialist treatment.
Kate had returned to London to care for their children Darcey, 17, and 14-year-old Billy but while getting a connecting flight was told her husband had suffered a cardiac arrest, and she returned to his side, before the pair were put on a medical-evacuation plane after Derek was stabilised, and they returned to the UK the week of 11 December.
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: “It’s been an unbelievably gruelling eight weeks for Kate, and how she is still going is quite remarkable.
“Derek and Kate made the trip to Mexico in November. They did it without fanfare as they didn’t want to get up everyone’s hopes.
“The treatment went incredibly well, and his doctor and all the consultants were hugely optimistic about his long-term progress, and future.
“Unfortunately as Kate excitedly returned to bring Derek home he suffered a cardiac arrest.
“Doctors confirmed this could have happened at any point over the last four years due to the damage to Derek’s organs inflicted by Covid. Quite simply, it was unavoidable.
“Kate was by his side in intensive care in Mexico and worked with Derek’s UK consultants who oversaw his treatment and his return, which was a military operation.
“Under his UK doctor’s guidance, he was flown home by medevac — a specialist and extremely costly, air ambulance — to be put in intensive care at a London hospital.
“This in itself was a huge undertaking and ordeal.
“Unfortunately, despite the doctors in Mexico getting his heart beating stably again, Covid damage meant further complications ultimately affected his chance of recovery.”
The 56-year-old presenter announced Derek’s death on Instagram a few days ago.
She wrote in part: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.
“As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.
“Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper has died aged 56.
The ‘Good Morning Britain’ presenter took to Instagram to pay tribute to her late husband, who has been seriously ill since contracting COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic in 2020.
Kate revealed Derek suffered a cardiac arrest in December, and she was holding his hand when he passed away.
She wrote: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away. As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications. Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed. (sic)”
Kate praised the medical teams who “fought so hard to save” her husband – who she has daughter Darcy, 17, and son Billy, 14, with – and made his final moments “as comfortable and dignified as possible”.
She added: “I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible. Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life. (sic)”
Derek spent 13 months in hospital making him Britain’s longest suffering coronavirus victim, and his health battle had left him with long-lasting organ damage and requiring 24/7 care at home.
The 56-year-old broadcaster made two award-winning documentaries on her family’s experience living with the changes in Derek’s health.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Susanna Reid, Lorraine Kelly and Alastair Campbell have led tributes to Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper, following his death aged 56.
The political advisor – who had been seriously ill since contracting COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic in 2020 – passed away with his ‘Good Morning Britain’ presenter wife, 56, holding his hand, and several of her colleagues have sent their well wishes after Kate posted a tribute to Derek.
Susanna wrote on Instagram: “Our whole hearts are with you all”
Kate’s ‘GMB’ co-host Charlotte Hawkins posted: “So desperately sorry Kate, it’s absolutely heartbreaking. So much love to you all (sic)”
Sometime ‘GMB’ presenter and former Labour Party spokesman Alastair paid a personal tribute to the lobbyist, insisting Derek had “so much more to give” before he was struck down by coronavirus in 2020.
He wrote on X: “Very sad to hear the news about Derek Draper. He was a huge character, a giver not a taker, and had so much more to give before Covid took its toll. Sad above all for @kategarraway and the children. Their love and support was profound and unshakeable to the end. RIP (sic)”
‘Lorraine’ host Lorraine Kelly posted “So sorry Kate. You fought so hard. Just incredibly sad. Sending you love”
‘This Morning’ presenters Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond paid tribute to Derek live on air on Friday (05.01.24).
Dermot read out Kate’s tribute, and Alison said: “All of us here at ‘This Morning’ are sending our love to you, Kate, and of course, Darcy and Billy.”
After being hit with COVID, Derek spent 13 months in hospital, making him Britain’s longest suffering coronavirus victim.
His health battle left him with long-lasting organ damage and requiring 24/7 care at home.
Just a few months before Derek was affected by COVID, he travelled to Australia with his and Kate’s children, daughter Darcy, 17, and son Billy, 14, to support the TV presenter when she took part in ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’, on which she finished fourth.
One of Kate’s fellow campmates, Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo, has recalled how affectionately Derek used to speak of his and Kate’s “love story”.
She wrote on Instagram: “I’m so so sorry Kate. I have such fond memories of Derek while he was waiting for you, while you were in the jungle. I loved the way he spoke of your love story. Thinking of you so much. X (sic)”
Several other stars have also sent their well wishes to Kate, including comedian Alan Carr.
He wrote on social media: “Oh Kate that’s so awful. Sending you so much love and the deepest condolences”
Singer Peter Andre posted: “Sorry to hear this Kate. We send all our love. Thoughts with you all”
TV presenter and ‘This Morning’ fashion guru Lisa Snowdon wrote: “Kate. Sending you all so much love and strength at this heartbreaking time. So cruel and so sad. RIP Derek”
Broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire posted: “Kate I am so so so sorry for you and your gorgeous children. As a family unit the four of you have been immense. Sending so much love and strength to you all”
TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher wrote: “Oh Kate so sorry to hear this very sad news. Sending so much love to you and the children and all your family”
Kate took to Instagram on Friday morning to confirm Derek had passed away, just weeks after he suffered a cardiac arrest.
She wrote: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away. As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications. Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.
“I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible. Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life. (sic)”
Following Derek’s COVID battle, Kate made two documentaries, ‘Kate Garraway: Finding Derek’ and ‘Kate Garraway: Caring For Derek’ about her family’s experience living with the changes in Derek’s health.
‘Finding Derek’ won the Authored Documentary prize at the National Television Awards in 2021, and ‘Caring For Derek’ repeated the feat at the 2022 NTAs.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Lee Mack wants a cameo in ‘Coronation Street’.
The 55-year-old comedian has already fulfilled one of his two career goals by appearing in a 2018 episode of ‘Doctor Who’, but the star has also always wanted to land a part in the ITV1 soap, and Lee has suggested he could simply walk into the famous Rovers Return pub to deliver a few dramatic lines.
Speaking on the ‘Walking the Dog’ podcast, he said: “When I started in showbiz, there were two things I wanted to do – be in ‘Doctor Who’, and a little part in ‘Corrie’.
“I’m not joking, I would like a small part in ‘Coronation Street’. I’ll just pop in, go up to the bar at the Rovers, they go ‘Are you new round here?’ and I go ‘Yeah, I just sacked the secretary and I’ll tell you something, she’s not coming back if she’s spreading rumours like that about me,’ and then I just go again.”
However, the ‘Not Going Out’ star – who is married to Tara McKillop and has kids Arlo, 20, Louie, 18, and 11-year-old Millie with her – isn’t keen to spend more than a handful of days on the set of the Manchester-based soap, because he likes being at home.
He said: “But I’m not willing to spend more than two or three days on set because I’ve got things to do. When I say ‘things to do’, I just like being at home!”
In his long-running sitcom, Lee plays a fictionalised version of himself who rarely leaves his London flat, and he recently explained the idea for the show came to him when he was starring alongside sketch show legend Catherine Tate and fellow comedian Dan Antopolski at the Edinburgh Fringe.
He told the Christmas issue of Radio Times magazine: “I was doing a sketch show at the Fringe (comedy festival) in Edinburgh with Catherine Tate and Dan Antopolski.
“There was a thought I had that wasn’t even a joke – me looking out of a window with a telescope, my wife walks in and I suddenly look up at the stars.
“In other words, what the hell was I looking at?
“At best mildly amusing, not a sketch but an idea, so I parked it.
“Then I had another and another and the sketch grew into a quarter of the show and then became a pilot.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Lorraine Kelly suffers from “working class cringe” whenever she is invited to a glitzy event.
The 64-year-old presenter – who has been married to Steve Smith since 1992 and has daughter Rosie, 29, with him – has been a mainstay on breakfast television since the early 1990s, but admitted that years later she still considers herself to be working-class and always worries that she will be asked to leave a glamorous do because of her roots.
Speaking on the ‘How To Be 60’ podcast, she told ‘Loose Women’ anchor Kaye Adams: “I still have working-class cringe, that voice if you get an invitation to say go and meet Prince William for some charity thing.
“You go, ‘Oh God, I can’t go. As I walk through somebody’s going to tap my shoulder and say, ‘Nah, you can’t get in, you’re working class, away you go.’ ‘’
“It’s weird, I know it’s silly and I talk to myself about it and say don’t be daft, but I still have that kind of feeling.
“If you look on the outside, I’ve got my wee house down south and we do very well and here we are toddling off to go camping in Zimbabwe, but yes, I do consider myself working class and I’m very proud of it.”
The TV star – who presented her own segment on ‘GMTV’ until it was axed in 2010, and has hosted her self-titled morning show ever since – isn’t a fan of going to red carpet events.
She said: “For a start, it’s a faff, you’ve got to get ready.
“It’s ­probably a Scottish thing – don’t get too big for your boots, don’t draw attention. I’m not daft, I know things will stop eventually. But I never take it for granted.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online