‘Rest gently now’: Kate Garraway’s ‘darling’ husband Derek Draper dies aged 56

Derek Draper had been critically ill after a cardiac arrest in early December – James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock

KATE GARRAWAY has paid tribute to her “darling husband” Derek Draper, who has died aged 56, nearly four years after contracting Covid-19.

Former prime ministers and celebrity friends came together to offer their condolences to the Good Morning Britain presenter after she confirmed the news of Mr Draper’s death on Friday.

The former political adviser was said to be one of the UK’s longest-suffering Covid patients, spending 13 months in hospital after testing positive in 2020.

The virus left him with extensive damage to his organs and requiring daily care, but his health deteriorated after he suffered a cardiac arrest in December.

In a post on Instagram on Friday morning, Ms Garraway wrote: “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.”

She added: “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.”

The Good Morning Britain presenter thanked the medical teams who treated her husband and all those who had supported her family and wrote: “Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.”

A prominent figure in New Labour in the 1990s, Mr Draper worked for Lord Mandelson and set up the Progress organisation with Liam Byrne, who went on to become an MP.

However, he went on to retrain as a psychotherapist in the United States after becoming embroiled in the “cash-for-access” scandal that became known as “lobbygate”.

Derek Draper was a prominent New Labour figure in the 1990s – CHRIS LAURENS

Ms Garraway’s fellow ITV host Lorraine Kelly was among the first to send a message of support, writing in the comments of Garraway’s announcement post on Instagram:

Sir Elton John also commented:

Former political colleagues of Mr Draper’s also paid tribute, including Sir Tony Blair, who described him as a “brilliant adviser”:

Writing on Twitter, Sir Tony added: “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.”.

Another former prime minister, Gordon Brown, wrote: “I will remember him as brilliant, creative and multitalented, and our thoughts are with Kate, Darcey and Billy. RIP Derek.”

Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spin doctor, also paid tribute, writing on X, formerly Twitter:

He added: “Sad above all for Kate Garraway and the children. Their love and support was profound and unshakeable to the end. RIP”

Derek Draper with his children, Darcey and William, in 2019 – KEN MCKAY/ITV/SHUTTERSTOCK

Mr Draper was was placed into a medically induced coma in April 2020 following his first admission into hospital.

He woke from the coma in July of that year, but did not speak until October.

Ms Garraway revealed that the first word her husband spoke to her was “pain”.

He did not leave hospital until April 2021 and then required daily care at home.

Ms Garraway shared updates of her husband’s condition and the family’s efforts to care for him throughout his stages of recovery and readmissions.

Kate Garraway documented her husband’s battle with Covid-19 on ITV’s Finding Derek

Earlier this year she confronted Matt Hancock, the former health secretary, over his handling of the pandemic on Good Morning Britain.

Describing public anger towards him, Ms Garraway said: “This gives the impression you still don’t get why they are cross.

“You still don’t get why people are upset. They want to hold you to more account.”

In 2021 Ms Garraway won a prize at the National Television Awards for the documentary Finding Derek, about her family’s experience during the pandemic.

It detailed her husband’s treatment and his subsequent return to their family home.

Kate Garraway, with her parents and husband, Derek Draper, was awarded an MBE for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity in June 2023 – GETTY IMAGES

During a period out of hospital over the last year, he accompanied his wife when she collected an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.

Mr Draper also wrote two books – “Blair’s 100 Days” and “Life Support”, the latter concerning psychotherapy.

The Garraways were married in 2005 and have two children together.

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