Kate Garraway has said it was “emotional” celebrating her son’s birthday without her husband Derek Draper, as she revealed the sweet surprise Myleene Klass set up for 11-year-old Bill.
Derek remains seriously ill in hospital after contracting coronavirus in March, but said he would be “proud” of the celebrations Bill enjoyed at the weekend.
Kate’s Smooth Radio colleague Myleene arranged for a special jungle camp to be set up in Kate’s garden on Saturday as her son turned 11.
She wrote on Instagram: “So I was super nervous about Bill’s birthday this year – we usually have a family do with grandparents & a few of his friends but obviously this not possible.
“So we are seeing grandparents separately but wanted to do something for him & his mates in the garden. Derek is so brilliant at this, organising treasure hunts & boys own adventures so mentioned to @myleeneklass really didn’t want to let Bill down & did she know anyone with a tent we could borrow in case it was wet.
“Little did I know what I was unleashing! She is in her element! At 8.30 this morning she arrived with Apollo in tow to supervise the brilliant @sleepyteepeeuk to set up the most amazing jungle camp ever!!! ….”
Sharing a video of Bill exploring the teepee, which was set up for a sleepover, she wrote: “When Billy woke up he could not believe his eyes!!!! Thanks @sleepyteepeeuk & @myleeneklass and the fabulous @ariannemerry … feel so emotional but know Derek will be so proud and pleased. Can never thank you enough.”
Kate and Myleene were also joined by the Good Morning Britain presenter’s I’m A Celebrity campmate Roman Kemp, who donned his jungle outfit for the occasion.
Sharing a video of Roman playing Nerf wars with the kids at the party, she wrote: “You are a total star & great mate - so lovely to see you & your dad @martinjkemp.”
Speaking about the weekend’s celebrations on Monday’s Good Morning Britain, Kate said: “Billy absolutely loved it, he was completely overwhelmed.
“He was emotional too of course, but I said we were gonna do it all again when Derek gets back.”
Earlier this month, Kate revealed her husband was out of his induced coma, but said he is still “desperately” ill and in a “minimal state of consciousness”, with doctors telling her they’ve never treated anyone so sick.
She said though that there were “flickers of hope” as “his lungs are starting to recover, his kidneys and liver are doing better”, but added: “But they don’t know how much better he can get and there’s nothing to compare it to.”