Podcast Summary: Great Company with Jamie Laing

Episode: KATE GARRAWAY: I'm No Longer Afraid To Seek Joy & Love After Losing My Husband
Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Jamie Laing
Guest: Kate Garraway
Production: Jampot Productions

Episode Overview

This emotional and uplifting episode of Great Company features broadcaster and documentary maker Kate Garraway. In a deeply candid conversation with Jamie Laing, Kate opens up about her journey through grief after losing her husband, Derek Draper, to long-term effects of COVID-19. The discussion traverses topics of resilience, joy after loss, caregiving, how grief changes relationships, and embracing life’s unpredictability. Kate’s openness offers solidarity and insight for anyone dealing with grief or immense life upheaval.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Joy and Challenge of Celebrity Traitors (04:52–11:53)

• Kate discusses her experience on Celebrity Traitors, highlighting how it allowed her to reconnect with playfulness and relinquish control after years of serious caregiving and parental responsibility.
  • “It was like a license to play…for so long I’ve been having to manage life or death…and the children…and then with work and everything. So…a lot that has to be quite serious and challenging. But when you go into something like [Traitors], you hand over all control.” (05:27–05:55, Kate)
• She appreciated the sense of community viewers found in watching the show, and recounted forming friendships with the diverse celebrity cast, emphasizing the unexpected joy in moments of connection.
• Discusses why she may not project confidence despite her role as a journalist, revealing a vulnerability in social situations and highlighting the difference between professional and personal personas.

2. Upbringing, Family, and Security (11:53–19:58)

• Kate grew up in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in a stable, loving home; her parents’ sense of security shaped her emotionally, something she’s acutely aware her own children lost after their father’s illness and death.
  • “The greatest gift my parents gave me…is that I always had a sense it would be all right… Sadly Derek and I can't give [that] to our children…” (14:23–15:28, Kate)
• She reflects on her “rebellious period” surprisingly happening in her 30s post-divorce, rather than as a teenager, and stresses how curiosity—not rebellion—has always driven her.

3. Meeting Derek Draper and Relationship Insights (19:58–32:09)

• Kate shares the comedic and poignant story of meeting Derek, with early impressions, his complex personality, and the development of their relationship.
  • “He was very intriguing… a brilliant mix… understanding people and also bombast and colour as well.” (25:11–25:43, Kate)
• She discusses how her upbringing made her fearful of conflict in relationships and how a breakthrough with Derek helped her realize arguments do not equal abandonment:
  • “He said, ‘No, no, no, you’re allowed to get cross with somebody and tell them what you feel… you have to tell me stuff’… and so that was my version of your calm.” (27:51–28:56, Kate)

4. Derek’s Illness, Becoming a Carer, and Grief (34:06–53:43)

• Kate recounts, often with raw emotion, the initial shock when Derek fell ill at the start of the pandemic, the harrowing early weeks, and the revelation that COVID could lead to a prolonged state of disability rather than a binary outcome.
  • “I was told it's live or die. He got into the ambulance and said, 'you're definitely going to see me again.' I didn't know that…the Derek in the form that got into the ambulance, I wouldn't see again.” (34:26–35:03, Kate)
• She speaks about the strain and isolation of caregiving, the financial and emotional toll, and the peculiar privilege and pain of losing her husband slowly.
  • On missing Derek before his illness: “This year…I think I’ve had the chance… to start really missing the Derek before 2020… it’s been nice to remember some of the other things pre-damage…” (38:47–39:54, Kate)
• Describes being present and able to say goodbye:
  • “I absolutely had the chance to say everything. And we had a moment when we were on our own in the hospital room… I was lucky enough to be there for the last 48 hours until he finally did pass away…” (41:23–45:24, Kate)

5. Documenting Derek’s Journey and Advocating for Carers (46:35–51:37)

• Kate explains the origins of her documentaries about Derek, why she fought for editorial control, and the importance of candidly portraying the realities of care and grief for others in similar situations.
• Launches “Sharing Life,” an online community for carers, where people can share stories, advice, and support each other in a safe, non-toxic environment.
  • “Often it’s the sort of message from a stranger who's lived the experience that…fills a hole that the experts can't.” (49:36–50:53, Kate)

6. Advice for Those Dealing with Grief (52:16–53:43)

• Kate’s advice: grief is not linear, don’t fear laughter, nor is joy disloyal; allow yourself happiness.
  • “Don’t be afraid to seek out joy, don’t be afraid to laugh. But also know that just 'cause you’ve had a great day doesn’t mean to say the next one won’t be hard. And that’s the journey.” (52:23–53:43, Kate)

7. The Power and Perils of the Mind & Perspective on Happiness (55:41–63:02)

• Discusses how the brain is built for survival—a flight or fight “computer”—and needs to be consciously reprogrammed to seek joy and happiness.
  • “Your brain is a survival computer…It doesn't give a damn about our happiness, doesn’t give a damn about our joy. It's programmed to make us survive. So we see danger on adrenaline shock…” (60:31–61:16, Kate)
• Shares tools for reframing negative thoughts and emphasizes “programming for joy.”

8. Looking Forward: New Love and Openness to Life (63:02–64:21)

• Kate’s not ruling out love in the future, but admits she isn’t ready yet and is “old school” in how she meets people.
  • “I wouldn’t like to think that I never had romantic love in my life ever again. I think that would be rather a sad way to go through life, wouldn’t it?” (63:12–63:38, Kate)

9. Rapid Fire (‘Eight Questions’) (66:42–76:56)

Jamie asks Kate a series of personal and lively “quick fire” questions, revealing topics from her favorite saying (“Seize the moment”), her British guilty pleasure (chocolate and tea), hoarding habits, what turns her on/off, and her favorite swear word (“bugger”)—all with warmth and humor.

• “I give out a lot of love, but people are lovely to me as well, so I’m very lucky.” (76:07–76:12, Kate)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Never wait to say I love you. Never wait to say anything…you just don’t know where the last moment is.” (45:07, Kate)
• “I always felt incredibly lucky, incredibly lucky that I had that five years [caring for Derek].” (34:56, Kate)
• "Don’t be afraid to seek out joy…not being scared to smile and laugh, that’s not disloyalty.” (52:23, Kate)
• “The brain is the galaxy that we really need to explore.” (69:37, Kate)
• On grief: “It will feel differently on different days…just ‘cause you’ve had a great day doesn’t mean the next one won’t be hard. That’s the journey.” (53:43, Kate)
• On the realities of caregiving and loss: “There are people doing it. Millions of them every day. Millions of them every day. And they’re not lucky enough to be talking to you about it.” (46:30, Kate)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [04:52] – Releasing playfulness through Celebrity Traitors
• [14:23] – Security of upbringing and parental influence
• [19:58] – Meeting Derek Draper: origins and chemistry
• [27:51] – Relationship conflicts and feeling safe
• [34:06] – The onset of Derek’s illness
• [41:23] – Being present for Derek’s final moments
• [46:35] – The financial and emotional toll of prolonged illness
• [49:36] – The Sharing Life community
• [52:16] – Advice for those grieving
• [60:31] – “Your brain is a survival computer”: reframing perspective
• [63:02] – Dating and new love after loss
• [66:42] – Rapid-fire personal questions

Tone & Takeaways

Throughout the episode, Kate’s tone is warm, honest, sometimes vulnerable, but always striving toward hope, humor, and connection. Her message to listeners coping with loss is one of self-compassion and embracing joy without guilt. The conversation is a heartfelt invitation to see resilience not as mere survival, but as a way to actively seek joy and meaning even in dark times.

Links and Resources

• The Sharing Life (Kate’s new community platform for carers and those in grief): [Link will be in show notes.]
• Kate Garraway’s Documentaries: Details available on her social media and ITV.

If you are struggling with grief or need support as a carer, Kate and Jamie invite you to connect with the community at Sharing Life and reach out for support—no one should face these challenges alone.