Kate Garraway dealt fresh blow as ITV presenter sells flat amid debt struggles following Derek Draper death
Kate Garraway has been forced to sell her second home as she struggles with huge debts following her late husband’s years-long health battle.
The Good Morning Britain star, 58, has opened up in the past about her financial woes after having to implement round-the-clock care for Derek, who died last year after an extreme and lengthy battle with long Covid.
The 56-year-old contracted Covid in March 2020 and remained in hospital for more than a year, returning home after being in a coma in need of extensive medical care.
During his battle for care and after his death, Garraway has shared her money struggles, explaining she had debts of £800,000.
The presenter has now sold her flat in North London for £1.5million, however it is understood the property was heavily mortgaged.
She ITV host had wanted the flat to be a long-term investment but has now been forced to let the second home go.
“Kate takes paying off the debts very seriously and she’s always said she’d go to any lengths to achieve that,” an insider revealed.
“This is just part of that commitment, even if it does mean she’s had to lose the flat which she actually purchased years ago before meeting Derek and before they bought a family home together.”
Speaking to The Sun, they continued: “Like many people, she was keeping it as a financial safety net which she thought she wouldn’t have to use so soon.”
Garraway shared that while she had a prominent TV career, the £16,000 monthly costs from Draper’s care was more than her Good Morning Britain salary afforded her.
Her husband’s psychotherapy firm Astra Aspera Ltd, jointly controlled by Garraway, also went under, leaving hundreds of thousands owed.
The news follows another financial blow Garraway was dealt in June as she issued plea to her bank after finding herself unable to access her accounts.
The mother-of-two took to X to contact the bank after failing to reach customer service. “@Barclays please please get in touch with me…
“I have not been able to access any of my Barclays accounts current or savings since Friday due to changing my phone handset and can’t get through to anyone on customer service – please dm me,” she wrote. (sic)
Barclays responded through their official account, asking her to send her details via direct message to resolve the issue.
A liquidator’s report revealed that Astra Aspera owed £288,000 to HMRC.
A statement in June to the Daily Mail from her spokesperson read: “Kate has met all that the liquidators of Derek’s company have asked for and more over the past four years.
“She doesn’t recognise these figures and is shocked that it’s being presented in this way by them.
“Caring for Derek and supporting her family when Derek could no longer run his own businesses has taken a huge financial toll on her, but she’s determined to put things right.
“She is in constant contact with HMRC to make sure she honours what’s required from Derek’s now defunct company.”
GB News has contacted a representative for Garraway over the sale of her flat.