Kate Garraway admits home schooling her two children is torture.

TV presenter Kate Garraway has admitted she’s struggling with the torture of home-schooling her two children.

The star, 53, whose husband Derek Draper, who has been in hospital for ten months now after contracting coronavirus, spoke about schools being closed amid the pandemic on Good Morning Britain on Friday. 

Kate, who is mother to Darcey, 14, and Billy, 11, said: ‘We have made it to Friday, a collective sign of relief to anybody who is locked into the torture of home schooling.

‘This time round it’s a real struggle’: Kate Garraway admitted on GMB on Friday that home schooling her two children Darcey, 14, and Billy, 11, is torture after schools closed 

‘First time round, I was somewhat distracted at the time, and a lot of people felt quite nice, the sun was shining, we thought, “Great, time with the children, let’s see what those teachers are doing”.

‘And very quickly realised how brilliant teachers are, and this time around it’s a really struggle isn’t it?’

Ben Shephard, 46, agreed and said: ‘I think it’s really hard this time because of the weather particularly, and the kids want to just get back to school and be with their friends.’

Kate said: ‘They want to see other kids don’t they, and it feels like here we go again.’

While Derek no longer has coronavirus, the disease has left him suffering from multiple health conditions including diabetes and holes in his heart and lungs. 

Love: Kate's children have had a tough time because their father Derek Draper remains in hospital after contracting coronavirus in March (pictured in 2018)

Love: Kate’s children have had a tough time because their father Derek Draper remains in hospital after contracting coronavirus in March (pictured in 2018) 

He has regained minimal consciousness from his medically induced coma and while he has not been speaking, he heartbreakingly mouthed the word ‘pain’ recently. 

Kate’s children finally got to visit their father in hospital after 10 months recovering from COVID-19.

She admitted the family reunion was ‘heightened with emotion’ because her children saw how Derek was ‘very changed’ by his battle with the virus.

Kate also revealed that due to the government’s new lockdown she’s now banned from visiting her husband, saying she hopes it won’t continue as her absence could be ‘very impactful’ on Derek’s slow recovery. 

She recently reflecting on her first Christmas without Derek, telling Ben: ‘It was tough. I knew it was going to be tough. ‘There was a lovely moment which we did have. 

At last: Kate recently has revealed her two children finally got to visit their father Derek in hospital after 10 months recovering from COVID-19

At last: Kate recently has revealed her two children finally got to visit their father Derek in hospital after 10 months recovering from COVID-19

‘We did get to see Derek and the children did, which is the first time they’ve been able to do that. So that was amazing.’

Kate admitted it came as a shock to her two children seeing Derek for the first time in almost 10 months, as he looked very different to when he was first admitted.

She continued: ‘It was very heightened with emotion, because he’s very changed. 

‘So all the routines that we’d normally do, it was one of those moments that it was so wonderful but also it amplified how sad everything was. And how different it is. 

‘But it was still fantastic, and we’re very grateful to have had that opportunity.’

Difficult: The presenter admitted the reunion was 'heightened with emotion' as her daughter Darcey, 14, and son Billy, 11, saw how Derek was 'very changed' by his battle with the virus (pictured in December 2019)

Difficult: The presenter admitted the reunion was ‘heightened with emotion’ as her daughter Darcey, 14, and son Billy, 11, saw how Derek was ‘very changed’ by his battle with the virus (pictured in December 2019)

Kate went onto reveal she’s now unable to see Derek due to new restrictions introduced during the third lockdown, which bans any visitors on the COVID-19 ward where he is recovering.

She told Ben: ‘And then instantly, now I’m in a position where even I can’t visit. 

‘We’re into lockdown so no visits at all, which I hope doesn’t continue for the whole of lockdown, because I think that will be very impactful on Derek’s state.’ 

Tough: Kate went onto reveal she's now unable to see Derek due to new restrictions introduced during the third lockdown

Tough: Kate went onto reveal she’s now unable to see Derek due to new restrictions introduced during the third lockdown

Concerned: She said: ''We're into lockdown so no visits at all, which I hope doesn't continue for the whole of lockdown, because I think that will be very impactful on Derek's state'

Concerned: She said: ”We’re into lockdown so no visits at all, which I hope doesn’t continue for the whole of lockdown, because I think that will be very impactful on Derek’s state’

While Derek continues to recover away from home, Kate said she has been trying to be ‘both mum and dad’ to their two children.

The family had been unable to visit Derek in hospital due to coronavirus restrictions, but the mother-of-two previously said that nurses kindly allowed her to FaceTime him. 

On New Year’s Eve, Kate admitted she had a ‘calamitous’ Christmas without her husband during which her house was flooded and she was unable to get a supermarket delivery slot.

Wishing her followers a Happy New Year, Kate wrote on it was ‘the last day of a year few will be sorry to see the back of.’ 

Scary: Kate returned to Good Morning Britain following her festive break, after admitting on New Year's Eve she'd had a 'calamitous' Christmas

Scary: Kate returned to Good Morning Britain following her festive break, after admitting on New Year’s Eve she’d had a ‘calamitous’ Christmas

Not very festive: Writing alongside a photo of her Christmas tree in an Instagram post, the mother of two reflected on spending the festive season without Derek

Not very festive: Writing alongside a photo of her Christmas tree in an Instagram post, the mother of two reflected on spending the festive season without Derek

Explaining her absence from social media, she continued: ‘Have been quiet for a while – getting through Christmas has been a challenge hasn’t it with all the emotions it stirs in our strange world & no where really to put them – except in hope.’

‘And there is still so much real hope out there. Not just in the extraordinary health care workers & researchers who definitely hold a bright light for the future. But in all the little kindnesses.’

‘We had a calamitous few days in the run up to Christmas – but we got through thanks to some wonderful people,’ she explained.

Kate went on to thank those who had helped her and her family. 

‘The guys from @bondconstruction who literally got on their hands & knees with me to bucket out water after we had 2 pipe leaks that flooded our home,’ she wrote.

Kate also thanked fellow TV presenter and friend Emma Willis and Marks and Spencer ‘who made sure we had #gorgeousfood for our Christmas dinner when I couldn’t get a delivery slot anywhere & the guys from @britishgas who spent hours on the phone helping me to get a fridge & freezer to put the food in.’

After previously revealing her WiFi had broken in the run up to Christmas, Kate wrote that Sky had finally helped her fix the problem. 

‘The guys from @skyhelp who talked me through getting our WiFi & tv working on Xmas eve. Your kindness & spirit is overwhelming . And all @itv & @global for their constant support. 

‘Sending love & virtual hugs to all of you who have sent messages – spreading the love is what will give us all a truly happy new year,’ the star ended her reflective post. 

Slowly: Derek remains in critical condition but has made minor improvements since he was first admitted to hospital in March (he is pictured with Kate in December 2019)

Slowly: Derek remains in critical condition but has made minor improvements since he was first admitted to hospital in March (he is pictured with Kate in December 2019)

The star had also admitted she felt ‘physically sick’ at the prospect of spending her first Christmas without Derek since their eldest daughter Darcey was born. 

‘I feel physically sick actually and can feel my chest tightening at the thought of it,’ Kate said.

‘I’m in total panic about the idea of me, Darcey and Billy on our own this Christmas unable to visit Derek because of potential restrictions. 

‘That huge emotional hole, and I don’t know how to fill it, without grandparents and without friends helping to fill it.

‘It feels like such a significant moment as all festivals are. I do feel in a panic about it, but we’re in this situation because of the spread of a disease that at the moment doesn’t have a cure.’ 

A timeline of Derek’s coronavirus battle  

MARCH  

Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got ‘relatively close’ at the Prince’s Trust Awards on March 11 – Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March.  

She said: ‘Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] ‘god you look ill.’

‘He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe,

‘I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance’

Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition. 

APRIL  

Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed ‘mild symptoms’.

Kate said: ‘Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I’m afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time.

‘I’m afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.’ 

MAY 

Kate said: ‘The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight. 

‘But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.’

That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers

She said: ‘I’ll never give up on that because Derek’s the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty’

JUNE 

On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body

JULY 

On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition.

On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to ‘get on with life’ during Derek’s recovery.   

She added that Derek had ‘opened his eyes’ after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years.  

On July 13, Kate returned to GMB for the first time since Derek was hospitalised.    

On July 28, Kate revealed she’d paid an ‘extra emotional’ first visit to Derek, and admitted she’s ‘frustrated’ by his slow progress.

AUGUST

On August 14, Kate reassured GMB viewers that Derek was ‘still with us,’ but it was ‘a waiting game.’ 

On August 19, Kate revealed she celebrated Derek’s birthday with their two children, and described the day as ‘challenging’ for her family. 

 SEPTEMBER  

At the end of September, Derek reportedly becomes the longest surviving patient with coronavirus after spending 184 days in and out of intensive care.

Kate reveals Derek has lost eight stone during his battle.

The presenter announces she is returning to her Smooth Radio show so Derek can hear her voice. 

OCTOBER

On October 30 Kate reveals that Derek has spoken for the first time in seven months, saying the word ‘pain’ to his wife, who watched on ‘in tears’ over FaceTime. 

Kate says a day later that her husband no longer needs a ventilator to breathe. 

NOVEMBER 

Kate reveals her family car has been stolen in latest ‘body blow’ to her family life, as kind-hearted fans offer their cars to help.

She says she feels ‘physically sick’ at the prospect of facing her first Christmas without Derek.

DECEMBER 

The GMB star tells viewers it is her dream to visit Derek on Christmas Day.

She also reveals she missed two weeks on GMB after her children were exposed to the virus, but thankfully she and the kids tested negative.

On December 17, Kate has an emotional conversation live on GMB with two nurses who treated Derek when he was first admitted to Whittington Hospital in North London. 

On New Year’s Eve she reflects on a ‘calamitous’ Christmas without Derek, as her house was flooded and she struggled to get a food delivery slot until her pal Emma Willis stepped in to help.

JANUARY 

Kate reveals she and her children got to visit Derek in hospital over the Christmas period, and it was the first time her family had seen him since he was hospitalised.

She also says she’s banned from seeing home due to new restrictions introduced during the government’s third lockdown.