Kate Garraway’s Touching Tribute at the National Television Awards
Kate Garraway took home the Authored Documentary award for her deeply personal film “Derek’s Story” at the National Television Awards (NTAs) on Wednesday night. The emotional evening at The O2 in London featured touching moments as Kate, accompanied by her children Darcey, 18, and Billy, 15, accepted the award. Darcey was seen comforting her younger brother while their mother delivered a heartfelt speech dedicated to carers everywhere.
The documentary, which followed the final year of Kate’s late husband Derek’s life, captured the hearts of the nation. Derek Draper, a political lobbyist, died in January at 56 after a long battle with complications following his Covid-19 infection in 2020. The win was a bittersweet moment for Kate, who expressed the difficulty of navigating life without Derek and dedicated her award to carers everywhere.
Dressed in a sleek polka dot gown, Darcey was a pillar of strength for her family throughout the night. She was seen tenderly rubbing her brother’s shoulders and holding her mother’s hand as they made their way to the stage. As Kate, 57, delivered her speech, Darcey kept a watchful eye on her mother, standing beside her in a touching display of family solidarity.
Kate began her emotional speech by acknowledging the bittersweet nature of the award. “This is a bittersweet one, isn’t it? It’s very bitter to be here, with the gorgeous Darcey and Billy,” she began. “We’re halfway through the first year of firsts, really. A first Easter, first birthdays, without Derek. It’s so strange to be here for the first Television Awards without him.”
“Derek’s Story” is the third documentary in which Kate has shared her family’s journey, following “Kate Garraway: Finding Derek” (2021) and “Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek” (2022). Both previous films also won awards, highlighting Kate’s ongoing dedication to sharing her experiences as a carer.
The evening came after Kate marked what would have been her 20th wedding anniversary to Derek on Tuesday. She shared her feelings with her 1.3 million Instagram followers, reflecting on the significance of the day and her sense of loss. In a heartfelt video, Kate described the pain of the milestone, saying, “It’s just one of those days, like Christmas to come, Easter… where you really feel a punch to the stomach.”
As the awards ceremony progressed, other winners were also celebrated. Ant and Dec continued their record-breaking streak by winning the Best Presenter honour for the 23rd time. Meanwhile, “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” emerged as a big winner, securing three awards, including a notable victory for Toby Jones in the Serial Drama Performance category. “Strictly Come Dancing,” despite recent controversies, won the Talent Show award, beating out competitors like “Britain’s Got Talent” and “The Great British Bake Off.”
The NTAs, held annually at The O2 since 2010 (except for the 2022 event at Wembley), are a beloved British television institution. This year’s ceremony, hosted by comedian Joel Dommett, was broadcast live on ITV and saw the public once again showing their support for their favourite shows and personalities.
National Television Awards (NTA) 2024: The Winners
| Category | Nominees | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Authored Documentary | Beckham, Rhod Gilbert: A Pain in the Neck, Robbie Williams, Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change | Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story |
| Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award | Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, The Graham Norton Show, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here, The Masked Singer, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show | I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here |
| Comedy | Brassic, The Gentlemen, Ghosts, Mrs Brown’s Boys, Not Going Out | Mrs Brown’s Boys |
| Daytime | The Chase, Deal or No Deal, Loose Women, This Morning, The Repair Shop | The Chase |
| Drama Performance | Brenda Blethyn (Vera), Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer), Michelle Keegan (Fool Me Once), Toby Jones (Mr Bates vs The Post Office), Vicky McClure (Trigger Point) | Toby Jones (Mr Bates vs The Post Office) |
| Expert | Anton Du Beke (Strictly Come Dancing), David Attenborough (Mammals), Kaleb Cooper (Clarkson’s Farm), Martin Lewis (The Martin Lewis Money Show), Torvill And Dean (Dancing on Ice) | David Attenborough (Mammals) |
| Factual Entertainment | Clarkson’s Farm, Gogglebox, Martin Lewis Money Show Live, Sort Your Life Out, The Yorkshire Vet | Sort Your Life Out |
| New Drama | Baby Reindeer, Fool Me Once, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, One Day, Red Eye | Mr Bates vs The Post Office |
For more updates on Kate Garraway and the National Television Awards, visit EyeOnLondon for the latest news and insights. You can also explore Carers UK to learn more about the vital work carers do and how you can support them.
