Richard Madeley confessed he was ‘tearing up’ on Good Morning Britain today after an emotional moment with Kate Garraway on Carers Rights Day.
Kate, 57, was talking about the role of carers in the UK after she cared for her late husband Derek Draper while he was suffering with health complications related to Covid.
DJ Naughty Boy – real name Shahid Khan – appeared on the ITV show today alongside Kate, Susanna Reid, 53, and Richard, 68, to talk about being a carer for his mother, who is living with dementia.
Shahid’s mum – who is recovering from a stroke – has been living with him for six years.
After a discussion about the importance of paid Carer’s Leave to help families balance work and care, Shahid gave Kate a book to read.
Susanna asked the pair if they share a unique bond, having gone through similar experiences in caring for loved ones.
‘You know what it takes,’ said Shahid, while Kate agreed, adding: ‘It’s not something we like to think about, either needing to be cared for or someone we love needing care, so people avoid it. But when you’ve been in it there is a bond.’
She then asked Shahid, ‘Can you give me a hug?’ and the pair embraced, while Kate said she would read the book.
After their exchange, Richard turned to the camera and his voice shook as he tried to tell viewers the time, before he said, ‘I’m tearing up here,’ and wiped his eyes.
‘It’s 6.27am and time for the weather with Laura,’ Richard continued, before a sniff.
Talking about his mum – who has full time care in the house now, as well as willing family members who ‘chip in’ and help – Shahid explained the impact of her moving in.
‘It enabled me to cook for mum. That’s in my control. I’ve dedicated my new album to mum, that’s in my control,’ he said.
‘So I’m learning to separate that from the things that I can’t control.’
He also revealed that his mum is his ‘biggest fan’, adding: ‘When I started making music mum always said, “You’re not a naughty boy, you’re a good boy,” and I’m trying to live up to that.’
Over the past few years Kate has allowed cameras to follow her family for three documentaries about Draper’s health battles.
Ahead of the release of Kate’s documentary Derek’s Story earlier this year, the presenter held back tears when speaking about how her husband felt like a ‘burden’ in the years before his death.
‘One of the biggest frustrations was that he felt like a total failure, he felt like an incredible burden on the carers, on the system, on us and it didn’t matter what we said, he felt that burden, and he wanted to be a contributor,’ she said on GMB.
‘Making this documentary was his way of saying, “I’m gonna speak up for the people that have supported me, the family but also those around me and the people within the care system.’
She added: ‘It’s wonderful to have the chance to honour him and also honour the millions. I’m sad because I don’t have the chance to care anymore but I felt it would be wrong for me to sort of walk away from the caring campaign that I feel I have a responsibility for.’
