KATE Garraway has offered insight into the reason behind her tough financial struggles after she was landed with a £716,000 tax bill.
The Good Morning Britain star is being hounded for the hefty sum by the taxman – after Covid hit husband Derek and forced her to close down his family business.
Kate Garraway is facing a huge taxi billCredit: Splash
The Good Morning Britain star has been struggling since Derek’s illnessCredit: Splash
The couple ran a business together before Derek was left unable to talk or walk after the virus ravaged his organs.
Opening up about her financial struggles, Kate said: “Perhaps there is the assumption that because I’m on the telly, and because people have heard so much of Derek’s story — and he has touched so many hearts — that we’ve had special treatment from the NHS or bypassed waiting lists.
“We haven’t jumped any queues, which is just as it should be. There are only so many resources, and we are still waiting on referrals from almost three years ago. Of course it’s been tough financially.
“As anyone with a loved one who is seriously ill knows, the costs go through the roof in so many ways. You have to make changes to your home and it affects your ability to work.
“I had to take long periods off when Derek was first sick, and of course it affects the overall income for the family as he can no longer work.
“We had to wind up the business we had together, and also I’ve had to take on assistants so that I can focus on Derek when not on air.
“Derek was always so incredibly supportive of my work, but I didn’t realise just how much he did in that area until he couldn’t anymore.”
Kate’s bill relates to Astera Aspera Ltd, a firm set up in December 2011, providing psychotherapy and other services which was once solely run by Kate’s psychotherapist husband, Derek, 55.
The company was forced into liquidation in March of last year and HMRC estimated it owed £124,000 in taxes.
Now, despite not having seen the accounts, they’ve come up with a figure almost six times higher.
Kate became one of the directors of the firm when Derek fell ill and last year she wound up the business as she struggled to look after her husband and children as well as her TV work.
Derek was hospitalised with Covid in March 2020 and placed into an induced coma while his body fought one of the worst reactions to disease ever seen.
It was over a year before he could return home to Kate and their two children, and as he struggles with mobility and speaking, still needs round the clock care as he makes a slow recovery.