Caitlyn Jenner has revealed she’s been supporting her I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! co-star Kate Garraway amid her husband Derek Draper’s health woes.
The 70-year-old retired Olympian formed a friendship with British TV presenter Kate, 53, when they appeared together in the Australian jungle last winter.
And Caitlyn has revealed to that she recently called to check in on her new friend as her husband’s heartbreaking hospital stay, triggered by complications stemming from contracting COVID-19, enters its sixth month.
Support: Caitlyn Jenner, left, has revealed she’s been supporting her I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! co-star Kate Garraway, right, amid her husband Derek Draper’s health woes
The American star told the Daily Star: ‘Kate, when she came home, her husband and coronavirus – it’s been a tragedy.
‘I talked to her the other day and as soon as we got on the phone, that voice of hers, I was like, “oh my God, that voice of hers, it has a familiarity”.’
Caitlyn and Kate joined a host of stars – including Nadine Coyle, Roman Kemp, Ian Wright, and Myles Stephenson – to compete on I’m A Celeb, with former EastEnders actress Jacqueline Jossa emerging the ultimate victor.
Health battle: Derek Draper, 53, was hospitalised back in March after suffering complications from contracting COVID-19, and has remained there since. Pictured in December
On Friday, Kate revealed how she celebrated her 15th wedding anniversary with Derek on Thursday, after being unable to visit him in hospital.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the presenter revealed she would be seeing him later that day, but admitted it felt ‘strange’ as Derek is in a state of limited consciousness.
Derek, 53, was hospitalised back in March after suffering complications from contracting COVID-19, and has remained there since.
Kate revealed: ‘We did our best to make it special. We had him on FaceTime. We raised a glass to say happy anniversary.
Candid: Kate revealed how she celebrated her 15th wedding anniversary with Derek on Thursday, after being unable to visit him in hospital
‘I have a card to take to read to him. He was a prolific card writer for birthdays. He’d always remember. And hopefully he’ll do it again.
‘It will be strange reading to him, but this time I have made a bit more of an effort.’
On Thursday, Kate admitted she was having a ‘tough’ day being unable to see her husband.
Sharing her feelings on air with Susanna Reid and Adil Ray, Kate said: ‘It’s actually Derek and I’s wedding anniversary today, unbelievably – 15 years today.
‘What an extraordinary thing. I won’t be able to see him today, I kind of hoped I would but it wouldn’t work out that way for a visit…
Woes: Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the presenter revealed she would be seeing him later that day, but admitted it felt ‘strange’ as Derek is in a state of limited consciousness
‘But maybe it would be a bit strange anyway. So yeah, it’s a tough day but he’s still here. There’s not a huge amount of change.’
Kate said that she hadn’t seen Adil or Susanna for a while, and went on: ‘So much happens in those couple of weeks, there’s so many seeming positives, but actually when I see people again it’s just the same.
‘But you have to think, at least he’s here with you – you have a flicker and then a bad day but you have just got to keep going really.’
Derek fell victim to COVID-19 in March and was rushed to ICU and put in a coma – where he has been since.
Special: Kate told co-host Ben Shephard of her limited anniversary celebrations, ‘We did our best to make it special. We had him on FaceTime. We raised a glass to say happy anniversary’
He is now in a limited consciousness and is unable to talk – but can hear things. His carers have been playing GMB on TV for him, while Kate is on.
Kate returned to the studio having taken time out to settle her children into school, after what has been a challenging six months for the family.
She shares Darcey, 14, and William, 11, with Derek.
Derek is one of an estimated five people in the world whose bodies have been damaged so much by COVID-19.
Kate contracted novel coronavirus herself at the same time as Derek, but made a full recovery.
Tragic: Derek is now in a limited consciousness and is unable to talk – but can hear things. His carers have been playing GMB on TV for him, while Kate is on (pictured in December)