UPDATE: |Kate Garraway recalls moment husband Derek Draper ‘burst into tears’ over decision as she makes story blunder News

The presenter was discussing choosing whether or not to take your partner’s name

Kate Garraway has recalled the moment her late husband Derek Draper ‘burst into tears’ over a big decision as she made a story blunder on live TV.

The Good Morning Britain presenter has been filling in for Lorraine Kelly this week on the Scottish TV personality’s self-titled ITV talk show.

On a morning where she was joined by Monty Python and Fawlty Towers legend John Cleese, Kate discussed changing your name when you get married.

Telling a story about how Derek reacted to her wanting to take his surname, Kate accidentally referred to her first husband Ian Rumsey, who she was married to from 1998 to 2002.

“I had a moment, Derek and I were sitting in John Lewis doing the wedding list. The lovely gentleman said ‘do I put you down as Garraway-Rumsey’. I said, definitely Kate Rumsey’.

“Derek burst into tears, he was so happy. He was sobbing away saying ‘I can’t believe you’d do that, that’s so wonderful’. I said ‘I’d absolutely love to. If you’re prepared to marry me, I’m prepared, of course I’d take your name”.

“Never changed it. I changed it initially, then somebody booked me a flight and I turned up as Mrs Rumsey and of course I was Garraway.”

Realising her mistake, Kate said: “Rumsey? By God, that’s my first husband. I’m in chaos this morning. I turned up as Mrs Draper, of course they wouldn’t let me onboard.”

Adding that things can ‘get complicated’ when it comes to choosing a surname for your children, Kate clarified what she meant at the end of the segment.

“I am Mrs Draper, not anything else,” she declared.

Kate married Derek at a ceremony held in London in 2005, going on to have two children together – daughter Darcey, 19, and 15-year-old-son Billy.

Sadly, Derek was diagnosed with Covid-19 in March 2020, remaining in hospital for over a year before returning home on a trial basis.

Derek tragically passed away on January 3, 2024, following his prolonged battle with Covid-19-related health issues.

Meanwhile, Kate recently opened up about becoming Derek’s carer during his health battle, offering advice for anyone going through something similar.

“Break it up into bite-sized pieces. When I started as a reporter, a friend taught me that when you’re tackling any problem and feel you’re sinking, think of a ship with its watertight compartments.

“Shutting them allows the ship to stay afloat,” she candidly told The Observer Magazine.