Kate Garraway engaged in a heartfelt conversation with Renée Zellweger on Good Morning Britain this Friday, discussing the new Bridget Jones movie, ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’, which is due for release on Valentine’s Day, 14 February.
During the chat, Kate, 57, resonated with the film’s themes as she pointed out it almost mirrored her own personal life.
The upcoming flick, marking the fourth instalment of the romantic comedy saga, catches up with Bridget over two decades since we first met her as Bridget is now a single mum of two following the death of husband Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).
She is once again looking for love and her potential love interests are married teacher Mr Wallaker (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and Roxster (Leo Woodall), while Hugh Grant returns as charming cad Daniel Cleaver.
In her interview with Renée, 55, Kate noted how many see themselves in Bridget’s character, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Kate reflected: “Everybody thinks they’ve got a bit of Bridget Jones in them or they know a Bridget Jones! It’s usually the loveable bits, mine are always the klutzy bits and the falling over and all those other bits as well.
“But since we last chatted, it has felt very personal as I’ve lost my husband, I’ve become a single mum, freshly a single mum, raising two kids on my own, one of them called Billy, so what is it for you, do you tap into a personal loss?”
To which Renée, who plays Bridget Jones in the film franchise, responded: “Well first of all, I’m sorry, I’m really sorry, that’s very fresh and sad, it’s probably very raw still for you” to which Kate admitted: “Yeah, I think it is.”
Comforting the Good Morning Britain host, Renée added: “Of course it is!” to which a thoughtful Kate replied: “Thank you!”
Renée continued: “You feel like your cells change and it’s really hard to explain that to somebody that hasn’t been through it… so certainly I am familiar with that.”
Kate’s husband, Derek Draper, sadly passed away in January 2024 at the age of 56. He had faced serious health challenges for nearly four years after contracting COVID-19.
Sharing the devastating news at the time, Kate said: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away. As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.
“Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed. I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible.
“Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.”
Following his passing, Kate took a break to spend time with her family before bravely returning to Good Morning Britain.
Good Morning Britain continues on weekdays at 6am on ITV and ITV X.