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
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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”.
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.”
Watch: ITV presenters send live on-air message to Kate Garraway after husband Derek Draper’s death
ITV’s daytime stars have sent messages of support to their colleague Kate Garraway live on air following Draper’s death.
On Loose Women, panellist Kaye Adams fought back tears as she read out Garraway’s statement, while their fellow presenters Linda Robson and Olivia Attwood also paid tribute.
Watch below:
Tony Blair calls Derek ‘an important part of the New Labour story'
Another former prime minister to pay tribute to Derek is Tony Blair, who called him “an important part of the New Labour story”.
Blair said of Draper, a former Labour Party adviser: “I am so sad to hear the news about Derek. My heart goes out to Kate and their children William and Darcey.
“It is extraordinary and remarkable that Derek survived so long after the ravages of Covid. And that was in large measure due to the love Derek had for his family and they for him. This also says something very special about Derek.
“He was a tough, sometimes ruthless political operative, a brilliant adviser and someone you always wanted on your side. But underneath that tough exterior he was a loving, kind, generous and good natured man you wanted as a friend.”
He called him “a good colleague and great friend”, adding: “We will miss him deeply.”
Vanessa Feltz says she’s ‘devastated’ for Kate Garraway
Paying tribute to Derek Draper, TalkTV host Vanessa Feltz wrote to Kate Garraway: “Devastated for you my darling friend. Sending you prayers love and my deepest condolences. Always here for you. My love always.”
One message receiving a lot of attention is a short, but moving post from Richard Arnold, the Good Morning Britain entertainment correspondent who is close friends with Kate Garraway.
In response to Garraway’s Instagram post announcing Derek’s death, he wrote: “By your side always.”
More 'Loose Women’ tributes roll in
Loose Women star Judi Love wrote: “So deeply sorry for your lost hun, My thoughts are with you and your family sweetie,” while Saira Khan added: “So sorry to hear this Kate – sending you and your family love and prayers during this difficult time.
Kerry Katona posted: “Sending you all my love and strength to you and your family.”
Martin Lewis is latest celebrity to share tribute
Martin Lewis, a fellow ITV colleague of Kate Garraway’s, said in tribute to her husband: “I’m sad to hear of Derek Draper passing. 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.
He continued: “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.”
Kate Garraway says she has ‘so much more to say’ after Derek’s death
Kate Garraway has told her fans she has “so much more to say” and that she “will do so in due course”.
She thanked “all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible” and sent “so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support”.
To her husband, she wrote: “Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.”
Presenter Dan Walker has paid tribute to Derek, writing: “Very sorry to hear about the death of Derek Draper. There are some lovely tributes to him on here today and like everyone else, I’m thinking of Kate and their family.”
Elton John sends ‘love’ to Kate Garraway
Sir Elton John sent his “love and thoughts” to Kate Garraway.
He wrote in reply to the TV host’s Instagram post annoucning her husband’s death: “So sorry to hear of this news, Kate. Love and thoughts to you and your family.”
Garraway and Draper attended the singer’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road show at London’s 02 Arena in April 2023 as guests of honour. John dedicated the son” Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” to the couple, footage of which Garraway shared on her social media pages.
Kate Garraway has been candid in her discussions about the realities of caring for Derek.
After spending more than a year in hospital with Covid from March 2020 to April 2021, partly in an induced coma, Derek was in and out of hospital for various treatments. As of September 2023, Draper had no physical mobility and needed to be held upright by two people five times a day in order to bear any weight.
Garraway said in an interview that a lack of progress had taken a toll on them both, stating: “The truth is he’s terribly, terribly depressed. “I think sickness is selfish. Selfish in the sense that it does strip you of your empathy. He does get very emotional about the strain this has put on me.”
Kate Garraway opens up about realities of caring for Derek Draper
‘Selfish in the sense that it does strip you of your empathy,’ says broadcaster
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