'Christmas will be difficult but we need new memories' says Kate Garraway on first without Derek

Kate Garraway says her first Christmas with her two children without husband is about "making new memories". The star, 57, won a National TV Awards in September for documentary Derek's Story, which followed the final year of his life.

She announced in January that the former political lobbyist had died at the age of 56 after a lengthy battle with the long-term effects of Covid. Kate now has to soon get into the spirit to make it a special time for Darcey, 18, and Billy 15.

Kate says: "This Christmas will be difficult, as all the firsts are, but I’ve said to the kids, ‘Let’s do what feels right, do some new things and make new memories.’ Maybe we’ll go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve? You’ve got to try and let things evolve into new memories, and I’m going to be led by them. It will be our first Christmas without Derek, but to be honest, the last four or five Christmases have been challenging, although we’ve also had the joy of having Derek there with us... I hope I won’t be blubbing all day, but I’m sure there will be emotional moments. However, I want it to be fun and happy for Darcey and Billy because it’s been a tough few years for them. Maybe they’ll think, ‘At least Dad’s out of pain’."

The family had a tradition to drive to Derek's parents on Christmas Eve dressed up with Christmas lights in the car. It is something Kate says they will remember and talk about in the festive period as they reflect on the last 12 months.

Derek died at the start of January with TV host Kate holding his hand "throughout the last long hours" in hospital. He contracted covid in March 2020 and suffered multiple organ failure at the time, spending 13 months in hospital. It means he has already missed some big life events in the family household.

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"I was so sad that Derek wasn’t there to see that Darcey did better in her A levels than she thought she was going to," says Kate. "I thought, ‘You should be here – you’d be so proud.’ But I have to believe that he knows, and that he’s looking down and seeing all of it. My hopes for the kids’ future are that they can be happy, find something they feel passionate about – and occasionally put their laundry into the laundry bin!"

Looking to her own future, as well as TV work Kate has also returned to Smooth Radio meaning she will be very busy.

She told Woman&Home: "I have an amazing year of work planned for 2025, with exciting new projects, which is a blessing. I don’t think you’re over grieving in a year. In fact, a lot of people say the second year can be even harder, so I’m under no illusions it will be plain sailing. But 2025 will be about forging a new life with Derek’s love at the core, and with a sense of future for our family. I’m more excited about work than I’ve ever been. I’ve got two projects that are going to be incredible. "When you’ve felt like everything has fallen apart, you appreciate and treasure the things that are still there even more. For me, 2025 is about gratitude, hope and excitement."

* The December issue of woman&home is on sale October 24.

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