Kate Garraway
Encyclopedia
Kathryn Mary Garraway (born 4 May 1967) is an English journalist currently employed by ITV Breakfast
.
She has presented the UK version of The Biggest Loser.
in Abingdon, Oxfordshire (also the base of ITV Thames Valley). She then graduated from Bath College of Higher Education (later known as Bath Spa University
) with a BA in English
and History.
, and she had become an Independent Television News
trainee journalist by 1994.
A year later, Garraway joined Central News as a production journalist, reporter and news presenter. It was during her time there that she was 'talent-spotted' by Meridian Broadcasting
's head of news, who poached her (after seeing one of three minute bulletins) to become the main presenter of their nightly news magazine Meridian Tonight
. This offered enough visibility on a wider stage to be selected as part of the team of presenters who launched the BBC's 24-hour rolling news channel, BBC News 24
, in 1997, a period which included the anchoring of such stories as the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
alongside Martin Stanford
. She joined GMTV
in September 2000 as a stand-in newsreader. She was promoted to presenter following the resignation of Fiona Phillips
.
She became entertainment editor and stand-in presenter of Daybreak
on ITV Breakfast
(the successor of GMTV) in September 2010. A year later, she became the main presenter each Friday. She has regularly presented sister programme Lorraine
.
s hit celebrity ballroom competition series Strictly Come Dancing
, partnered with professional dancer Anton du Beke
. During rehearsals for the show Garraway, was injured and had to stop training for several weeks. As a consequence Garraway was unable to participate in the group dance in the first live show. The following week, ladies night, Garraway was able to dance albeit with only three days practice. Whilst Garraway was praised for managing to perform, her dancing was heavily criticised by the judges. However, despite being bottom of the leaderboard Garraway was saved by the public vote. In subsequent weeks Garraway continued to get the lowest score from the judges but then to be saved by the public vote.
In the fifth week, given her previous performances, there was a surprising improvement in Garraway's dancing as she received higher marks from the judges than three other couples. However, this proved to be a one-off and the following week Garraway was again at the bottom of the leaderboard, eventually being voted off in week seven.
In February 2008, she launched legal action against the Sunday Mirror
after it published a photograph of her embracing Strictly Come Dancing partner Anton du Beke, insinuating that they were having an affair, which both Garraway and du Beke denied.
Garraway has also made appearances on shows such as:
She appeared as a guest on GMTV with her new-born son Billy on 2 August 2009; her colleagues Andrew Castle
and Emma Crosby
presented the programme.
on women who breastfeed other people's babies.
before marriage, and now has a home in North London. She married ITV Central producer Ian Rumsey in her hometown of Abingdon, Oxfordshire
in 1998. Rumsey was her former boss at ITV Meridian east in Kent
around 1995, and was two years younger than her: they divorced in April 2002.
In July 2005, Garraway announced on GMTV that she was engaged to Derek Draper
, whom she married on 10 September of that year in Camden
, London, as covered in an OK! magazine exclusive. Draper was a political aide to former Labour
cabinet minister
Peter Mandelson
, and was at the centre of the scandal known as 'Lobbygate'. The couple celebrated the birth of their first child, Darcey Mary Draper, a baby girl, in Hammersmith and Fulham
, London, on 10 March 2006. During the pregnancy, Garraway was criticised by the press after she was photographed smoking. On 21 January 2009, Garraway revealed she was pregnant with the couple's second child. William "Billy" Garraway Draper was born on 28 July 2009.
After her first pregnancy, many fans expressed concern about Garraway's sudden weight-loss in early 2007. Garraway later explained that she had been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid
, which is very common in new mothers; she lost more than 19 kilograms and was very hyperactive before the condition was diagnosed.
In an article for The Observer
, Garraway confessed she had been lying to her friends about her age, and that she had actually turned 41 on 4 May 2008.
Her hobbies include scuba diving
, bodyboarding
, playing the clarinet
, and going to the cinema. She is a Gillingham
football fan.
On 20 April 2010, Garraway was rushed to hospital with suspected appendicitis
.
ITV Breakfast
ITV Breakfast Limited is the national ITV breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom...
.
She has presented the UK version of The Biggest Loser.
Early life
Garraway went to Fitzharrys SchoolFitzharrys School
Fitzharrys School, is a state secondary school located in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in England. Currently there are about 900 students attending. The current headteacher is Jonathan Dennett who took over from Susan Tranter in January 2011...
in Abingdon, Oxfordshire (also the base of ITV Thames Valley). She then graduated from Bath College of Higher Education (later known as Bath Spa University
Bath Spa University
Bath Spa University is a university based in, and around, Bath, England. The institution was previously known as Bath College of Higher Education, and later Bath Spa University College...
) with a BA in English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
and History.
Broadcasting career
Garraway's broadcasting career began with BBC Radio OxfordBBC Radio Oxford
BBC Radio Oxford is the BBC Local Radio station for the English county of Oxfordshire, broadcasting on 95.2 FM via the Oxford transmitter and online. The station broadcasts live from the BBC's Summertown studios in Oxford between 5am and 7pm each weekday, for over 13 hours on Saturdays & 19 hours...
, and she had become an Independent Television News
Independent Television News
ITN is a news and content provider with headquarters in the United Kingdom. It is made up of four key businesses: ITN News, ITN Source, ITN Productions and ITN Consulting. The ITN logotype can be displayed in any of 4 different colours, each of which represents a business unit. This is the...
trainee journalist by 1994.
A year later, Garraway joined Central News as a production journalist, reporter and news presenter. It was during her time there that she was 'talent-spotted' by Meridian Broadcasting
Meridian Broadcasting
Meridian Broadcasting is the holder of the ITV franchise for the South and South East of England. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting Limited....
's head of news, who poached her (after seeing one of three minute bulletins) to become the main presenter of their nightly news magazine Meridian Tonight
Meridian Tonight
Meridian Tonight is a regional television news and current affairs programme, produced by ITV Meridian , serving the South and South East of England , and usually broadcast at 6pm and 10.30pm every weeknight. Other bulletins are branded as Meridian News...
. This offered enough visibility on a wider stage to be selected as part of the team of presenters who launched the BBC's 24-hour rolling news channel, BBC News 24
BBC News 24
BBC News is the BBC's 24-hour rolling news television network in the United Kingdom. The channel launched as BBC News 24 on 9 November 1997 at 17:30 as part of the BBC's foray into digital domestic television channels, becoming the first competitor to Sky News, which had been running since 1989...
, in 1997, a period which included the anchoring of such stories as the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
Breakfast TV
In 1998, Garraway joined Sunrise on Sky NewsSky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
alongside Martin Stanford
Martin Stanford
Martin Stanford is a news anchor at Sky News who currently presents SkyNews.Com. Stanford had his own interactive show on the channel, Sky News with Martin Stanford from July 2006 to February 2007...
. She joined GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
in September 2000 as a stand-in newsreader. She was promoted to presenter following the resignation of Fiona Phillips
Fiona Phillips
Fiona Phillips is an English journalist, broadcaster and television presenter.-Early life:Phillips was born in Kent and Canterbury Hospital in 1961. Her grandparents ran the Duke's Head pub in Church Street St. Paul's. Phillips attended Kingsmead Primary School...
.
She became entertainment editor and stand-in presenter of Daybreak
Daybreak (ITV)
Daybreak is the weekday breakfast television programme on the British commercial ITV network that broadcasts on weekday mornings from 06:00 to 08:30 and is currently presented by Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley from Monday to Thursday with Dan Lobb and Kate Garraway on Fridays...
on ITV Breakfast
ITV Breakfast
ITV Breakfast Limited is the national ITV breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom...
(the successor of GMTV) in September 2010. A year later, she became the main presenter each Friday. She has regularly presented sister programme Lorraine
Lorraine (TV programme)
Lorraine is the early weekday morning, lifestyle and entertainment show for the British ITV network, presented by Lorraine Kelly. ITV Breakfast produces Lorraine, which airs every weekday from 08:30 until 09:25, following Daybreak...
.
Other television appearances
Garraway appeared in the fifth series of the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
s hit celebrity ballroom competition series Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
, partnered with professional dancer Anton du Beke
Anton du Beke
Anton du Beke is a British ballroom dancer and television presenter. His professional dance partner since 1997 has been Erin Boag. With Boag, he won the IDTA Classic in England in November 2003.-Family and early life:...
. During rehearsals for the show Garraway, was injured and had to stop training for several weeks. As a consequence Garraway was unable to participate in the group dance in the first live show. The following week, ladies night, Garraway was able to dance albeit with only three days practice. Whilst Garraway was praised for managing to perform, her dancing was heavily criticised by the judges. However, despite being bottom of the leaderboard Garraway was saved by the public vote. In subsequent weeks Garraway continued to get the lowest score from the judges but then to be saved by the public vote.
In the fifth week, given her previous performances, there was a surprising improvement in Garraway's dancing as she received higher marks from the judges than three other couples. However, this proved to be a one-off and the following week Garraway was again at the bottom of the leaderboard, eventually being voted off in week seven.
In February 2008, she launched legal action against the Sunday Mirror
Sunday Mirror
The Sunday Mirror is the Sunday sister paper of the Daily Mirror. It began life in 1915 as the Sunday Pictorial and was renamed the Sunday Mirror in 1963. Trinity Mirror also owns The People...
after it published a photograph of her embracing Strictly Come Dancing partner Anton du Beke, insinuating that they were having an affair, which both Garraway and du Beke denied.
Garraway has also made appearances on shows such as:
- Loose WomenLoose WomenLoose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
, ITV1ITV1ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
– Panellist/Anchor (2003, 2004, 2006, 2009) - Have I Got News For YouHave I Got News for YouHave I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been broadcast since 1990, currently the BBC's longest-ever running television panel show...
, BBC TwoBBC TwoBBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
– Guest - The Wright StuffThe Wright StuffThe Wright Stuff is a British television chat show, hosted by Matthew Wright, and currently airing on Channel 5 each weekday morning from 9:15 to 11:10am....
, Five – Guest - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK game show)Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a British television quiz show which offers a maximum cash prize of one million pounds for correctly answering successive multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty...
, ITV1ITV1ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
– Celebrity contestant - Too Many CooksToo Many Cooks (TV series)Too Many Cooks was a cookery competition on ITV which turns the idea of cookery shows on its head – the people cook for the chefs.It's a chance for great home cooks to prove themselves to the professionals, or be put in their place if their cooking is not up to scratch – contestants often turn out...
, ITV1ITV1ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
– Presenter (2004) - This MorningThis Morning (TV series)This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
, ITV1ITV1ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
– Guest presenter (2005) - Beef Encounter, Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
– Presenter - The People's Quiz, BBC OneBBC OneBBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
– Questioner (2007) - The F Word, Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
– Guest (May 2008) - Shooting StarsShooting StarsShooting Stars is a British television comedy panel game broadcast on BBC Two as a pilot in 1993, then as 3 full series from 1995 to 1997, then on BBC Choice from January to December 2002 with 2 series before returning to BBC Two for another 3 series from 2008 until its axing in 2011...
Anniversary Special, BBC TwoBBC TwoBBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
– Guest (December 2008) - Wall of Fame, Sky1 – Regular panellist (2011)
She appeared as a guest on GMTV with her new-born son Billy on 2 August 2009; her colleagues Andrew Castle
Andrew Castle
Andrew Nicholas Castle is an English retired tennis professional, former British No. 1, and now television presenter.-Biography:...
and Emma Crosby
Emma Crosby
Emma Catherine Crosby , is a British television newsreader and journalist, currently presenting for 5 News.-Early life:...
presented the programme.
Controversy
In August 2008, Garraway appeared on the front of national newspapers crouched next to a calf which she pretended to breast-feed to promote a documentary for Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
on women who breastfeed other people's babies.
Personal life
Garraway lived in OxfordshireOxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
before marriage, and now has a home in North London. She married ITV Central producer Ian Rumsey in her hometown of Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
in 1998. Rumsey was her former boss at ITV Meridian east in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
around 1995, and was two years younger than her: they divorced in April 2002.
In July 2005, Garraway announced on GMTV that she was engaged to Derek Draper
Derek Draper
Derek William Draper is a former lobbyist, former editor of the LabourList website, and psychotherapist. As a political advisor during the 1990s he became widely known for his role in two political scandals, "Lobbygate" and "Smeargate".-Biography:Draper was educated at Southlands High School in...
, whom she married on 10 September of that year in Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
, London, as covered in an OK! magazine exclusive. Draper was a political aide to former Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
cabinet minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson
Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, served in a number of Cabinet positions under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and was a European Commissioner...
, and was at the centre of the scandal known as 'Lobbygate'. The couple celebrated the birth of their first child, Darcey Mary Draper, a baby girl, in Hammersmith and Fulham
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is a London borough in West London, and forms part of Inner London. Traversed by the east-west main roads of the A4 Great West Road and the A40 Westway, many international corporations have offices in the borough....
, London, on 10 March 2006. During the pregnancy, Garraway was criticised by the press after she was photographed smoking. On 21 January 2009, Garraway revealed she was pregnant with the couple's second child. William "Billy" Garraway Draper was born on 28 July 2009.
After her first pregnancy, many fans expressed concern about Garraway's sudden weight-loss in early 2007. Garraway later explained that she had been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is the term for overactive tissue within the thyroid gland causing an overproduction of thyroid hormones . Hyperthyroidism is thus a cause of thyrotoxicosis, the clinical condition of increased thyroid hormones in the blood. Hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis are not synonymous...
, which is very common in new mothers; she lost more than 19 kilograms and was very hyperactive before the condition was diagnosed.
In an article for The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, Garraway confessed she had been lying to her friends about her age, and that she had actually turned 41 on 4 May 2008.
Her hobbies include scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, bodyboarding
Bodyboarding
Bodyboarding is a surface water sport . The average board consists of a small, rectangular piece of hydrodynamic foam, sometimes containing a ridged spine called a 'stringer'...
, playing the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, and going to the cinema. She is a Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
football fan.
On 20 April 2010, Garraway was rushed to hospital with suspected appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
.