View from My Sofa: Kate Garraway
The broadcaster has found solace in nature — and in the company of Traitors
Elisabeth Hoff /Lickerish
- Gareth McLean
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What’s the view from your sofa?
The view is brilliant because it faces, not the TV, but the windows. So, out the window, I have this view of trees. Lots and lots of trees. I look out and see the seasons from my sofa – as well as a very nice bird feeder.
Sounds thoroughly rural.
I live in a bit of north London, which they’ve worked out used to be some kind of fruit forest for a king or queen of the past. We’ve got plums and pears and apples and cherries and greengages – all delicious, by the way. Trees are beautiful. They flower and they fruit and they’re the lungs of the Earth. I am a tree-hugger. I love hugging a tree. I feel like I sense the vibrations.
Speaking of sensing vibrations, how was The Celebrity Traitors for you?
I loved it. Being thrown in with that group of people was extraordinary and intense. You’ve got no phone, wi-fi, TV or radio so you’re in this bubble, everyone’s feeling a bit vulnerable and you’re very much absorbed in the game.
How did it feel being cut off from technology and just sitting with yourself?
I like having what I call a “power-down”. When it all gets a bit overwhelming, I have a zone out and, when I’m at home, stare at my trees out of my window. I’ve been trying to do more of that because real life is hectic and we have a lot of demands on us.
How do you think you played the game?
They were all suspicious of me from day one and I was voted the weakest player by the Traitors and everybody agreed with that so, in one way, not great. But the Faithful didn’t get a Traitor until after me. It’s a challenge – as a Faithful you’re trying to stay alive and not be murdered or banished because you can’t catch a Traitor when you’re out.
How do you feel watching it back?
It’s so beautifully put together and it’s fascinating, in that a lot of things that seemed big in my head didn’t feature at all, and things that seem obvious in watching it weren’t obvious when you’re in there. Everyone keeps saying, “How did you not notice Alan Carr giggling the whole time?” But he’s so much fun. I was making him laugh and he was definitely making me laugh, but you don’t see it as suspicious at the time.
Your use of language made people suspicious of you.
I know! And I am flabbergasted… but that’s just the way I speak. I think we need more flabbergasted in the world – and more whoops-a-daisy, too.
Before your banishment, you spoke movingly about how, while caring for your husband Derek, who died in 2024, you had to be strong and inward-looking, but being in the Traitors castle had made you look up and outwards. What did the experience mean to you?
When you’re caring for somebody, you’re very inward-focused, thinking: “Have I done the medication? What do I need to do next?” Constantly being in charge… Millions of people do it and disappear. They give up their work and their lives and they do it willingly because they love the people they’re caring for. But it takes away your chance to play because you can never really switch off. Doing The Traitors felt really indulgent – and I did ask myself, “Should I be doing this?” – because it was the first thing I’d done in ages that wasn’t serious or to do with the children or Derek being very ill.
Was it life-changing?
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There have been some big experiences for me recently, so let’s not overegg it, but it was my birthday when I was in there and Derek was big on birthdays. So, it could have felt quite lonely, but weirdly it felt peaceful and like a reset.
Authors
Gareth McLean
Gareth McLean has been writing about television for nearly 30 years. As a critic, he's reviewed thousands of programmes. As a feature writer, he's interviewed hundreds of people, from Liza Minnelli to Jimmy Savile. He has also written for TV.
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