Derek Draper: Tributes pour in as ‘brave’ and ‘strong’ Kate Garraway announces husband’s death

‘GMB’ host has been caring for Draper ever since he contracted Covid in March 2020

Derek Draper death: Tributes pour in as ‘brave’ Kate Garraway announces husband’s death

Tributes are pouring in for Derek Draper, the husband of Kate Garraway, who has died, aged 56.

TV presenter Garraway has been caring for the former Labour Party adviser ever since he contracted Covid in the early stages of the pandemic.

In December, Draper suffered a heart attack that left him “fighting for his life” due to “the damage inflicted” by Covid”, which Garraway said caused “further complications”.

Kate Garraway, with her husband Derek Draper and her parents Gordon and Marilyn Garraway (Andrew Matthews/PA) (PA Archive)

Garraway announced her husband’s death on Friday (5 January), writing: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away. 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.”

Derek Draper tributes: Kate Garraway’s husband has died aged 56

• Derek Draper death: Kate Garraway’s husband dies after devastating Covid battle, aged 56
• Good Morning Britain stars send touching message to Kate Garraway and husband Derek Draper
• ‘I think sickness is selfish’: Kate Garraway opens up about realities of caring for Derek Draper

[7 January 2024 00:00 · Tara Cobham]

Recap: Sky News presenter pays tribute to ‘great friend’ Derek Draper as he announces death

Sky News presenter Ian King paid tribute to his “great friend” Derek Draper as he announced news of his death.

Kate Garraway shared on Friday 5 January that her husband died after suffering long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus.

After learning of Mr Draper’s death, Sky presenter Mr King paid an emotional tribute to his friend.

“Awfully sad news, very personally for me too, because I was at university with Derek more than 30 years ago,” he told viewers.

“I considered him a great friend. My condolences to the family.”

ITV presenters also sent an on-air message to Garraway on Friday.

Oliver Browning reports:

[6 January 2024 23:00 · Tara Cobham]

Derek Draper cries as he reads birthday card from his children in resurfaced clip

This is the touching moment Derek Draper cries as he receives a birthday card from his daughter Darcy, declaring him the “best father in the world”.

Mr Draper broke down in tears when he received the card, in a resurfaced clip from an ITV documentary detailing his battle with Covid, back in February 2022.

The ITV documentary showed the family celebrating Mr Draper’s 54th birthday after being discharged from hospital.

Mr Draper has died at the age of 56 following his long Covid battle.

Kate Garraway confirmed the death of “my darling husband” in a statement on Instagram on Friday 5 January.

Lucy Leeson reports:

[6 January 2024 22:00 · Clair Woodward]

Derek Draper was my therapist – he saved my life

My friend Mitch says that most obituaries aren’t so much as “the person that I knew” as “the person that knew me”. This is especially true about writing about my experiences with Derek Draper, as although he was a man who made a tremendous impression on my life, and we spent a lot of pretty intense time together, I didn’t know him personally at all – he was my psychotherapist.

About 20 years ago, having suffered from depression for a long time, I decided to finally go into therapy. “It’s talking to someone who cares, but isn’t involved,” explained a friend who’d been, and that is a perfect description. My first experience of therapy was with an organisation who trained therapists, and it was a great one. After an initial wariness, I didn’t have much hesitation in opening up; after all, what do you get from the experience if you hold things back?

Read more here:

[6 January 2024 20:50 · Nicole Vassell]

WATCH: The moment Derek Draper’s death was announced live on This Morning

[6 January 2024 19:20 · Nicole Vassell]

WATCH: Derek Draper looks on as wife Kate Garraway collects MBE from Prince William

[6 January 2024 17:50 · Nicole Vassell]

Kate Garraway to take leave of absence following death of husband Derek Draper

Kate Garraway will be absent from her roles on ITV and Smooth Radio following the death of her husband, Derek Draper, on Friday.

Isobel Lewis reports:

[6 January 2024 16:24 · Nicole Vassell]

Rob Rinder is another of Kate Garraway’s Good Morning Britain colleagues who has shared some supportive words in the wake of her husband Derek Draper’s death.

On X/Twitter on Friday, he shared a Maya Angelou quote: “Love recognises no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”

His message continued: “@kategarraway fought every day and never lost hope. How proud of you I am. May we all be blessed to have found a love like yours.”

[6 January 2024 14:20 · Nicole Vassell]

How the stars of Good Morning Britain reacted to Derek Draper’s death

Soon after Derek Draper’s death was announced on Friday, following a years-long battle with long Covid, colleagues of his wife Kate Garraway expressed their condolences online.

Susanna Reid and Charlotte Hawkins led messages of support to their fellow Good Morning Britain host.

Hawkins described the news as “absolutely heartbreaking” and sent “much love” to Garraway. In a post on Instagram, Hawkins also asked others to send Garraway “love and prayers” at this time.

[6 January 2024 12:51 · Tara Cobham]

Comic Jenny Eclair praises Kate Garraway for being a ‘warrior'

Jenny Eclair has shared a message of support for Kate Garraway after husband Derek Draper’s death, nearly four years after contracting Covid.

“What a warrior Kate Garraway has been throughout the trauma of her husband’s illness, this has been such a tragedy and she has been extraordinary,” she wrote on X/Twitter on Saturday (6 January).

[6 January 2024 11:20 · Nicole Vassell]

Martin Lewis pays tribute to Derek Draper, ‘a great big, warm, fun man’

TV economist and frequent Good Morning Britain contributor Martin Lewis shared his condolences on social media on Friday, in which he sent love to Kate Garraway.

“I’m sad to hear of Derek Draper passing,” his post on X/Twitter began.

“We had a few dinners out together with Kate and Derek and he was also a great big, warm, fun man. That’s how he should be remembered – he would’ve liked the attention :) Wishing Kate and the family love and ease through the pain.

“I hope they are left to grieve in peace & privacy, and the end of this tragic chapter lets them move on and recover the joy in their lives.”