Kate Garraway goes on first night out in 17 months and admits it’s ‘strange’ leaving sick husband Derek at home

KATE Garraway has gone on her first night out in 17 months, ever since the pandemic first started.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 54, said she felt "strange" going out and leaving her sick husband Derek Draper at home.

She said it was "very exciting" but "very strange" as she enjoyed a night at the West End opening of Wonderville at the Palace Theatre.

The magic and illusion show stars mind reader Chris Cox, Britain’s Got Talent magician Josephine Lee and record-breaking Magic Circle triple champion Edward Hilsum.

It was originally delayed due to a member of the production team testing positive for Covid-19.

At the event, the ITV presenter spoke to PA news agency about her night out and confessed it was her first in well over a year.

Kate said: "It’s our first time out since February 2020 so we are really excited, and this is a date that has sprung up because it was going to happen a few weeks ago and then it didn’t happen and then we just thought, ‘Let’s go for it’ – so very exciting."

The star added that it is sad being at the event without her 53-year-old husband who is still recovering from the effects of Covid-19.

Derek came down with Covid in March 2020 and was placed into a coma that he was in for around 13 weeks.

Kate continued to PA: "It was very strange leaving him tonight to come out because he is a big fan of magic, but it is not possible at the moment so we just said next time and see him when we get back.”

Speaking on how she wants to support the arts after Covid caused havoc, she said:

"I think it has been really tough for lots of industries and I think when we think about how tough it is for (the) arts we worry about the performers, who I think have had it very tough," she said.

"But of course it is everything else. It is the person that makes the costumes, it is the person that works the bar, it is the person that cleans the theatre.

"There is a whole group of people that have been left without work and I think for the rest of us we have missed the chance to have something to take us away from ourselves and escape."

Earlier this week, Kate's former co-star Piers Morgan said Derek is "still effectively in a coma" and that "people don't know the half of it".