Derek Draper Dead: Kate Garraway's Husband Has Died Aged 56

Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper has died aged 56.

Draper was a famous lobbyist and political advisor.

Born in 1967 in Lancashire, UK, Draper had a long-spanning career in politics, working for Labour politicians including Ken Livingstone and Roy Hattersley.

Draper also worked as the Political Editor of the Modern Review, was briefly a columnist for the Daily Express, and a presenter on Talk Radio UK.

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Draper married TV presenter Kate Garraway in 2005, and the pair shared two children – Darcey, 17, and 13-year-old Billy.

Kate Garraway and Derek Draper — Derek Draper married TV host Kate Garraway in 2005. Credit: Alamy

In March 2020, Draper became one of the first people in the UK to contract Covid-19.

He was in an induced coma for his first 10 weeks of treatment and would go on to be one of the UK’s longest-suffering Covid patients, spending 13 months in hospital.

After returning home in April 2021, Garraway reported that Draper still required around-the-clock care.

In September of 2023, Garraway published her book, ‘The Strength Of Love: Embracing An Uncertain Future With Resilience And Optimism’, all about how life as she knew it changed forever after Draper became ill.

“It’s a constant cycle of loving and losing, gratitude at surviving and grief for what’s been lost,” she said as per Central FM. “This book tells the story of how I am learning to find love and strength to help my family thrive and I hope what I have learned helps you to get through your own challenges.”

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Garraway also made two documentaries about Draper – both of which won National Television Awards.

“The reason we made the documentary was to highlight carers, professional carers, and carers who are doing it for love and the tough challenges that involves,” she said, as per Sky.

“As much as you don’t begrudge doing it, it’s very hard. You saw me frustrated, depressed, emotional, and I’ve been all of those and more in recent weeks and months.

“That’s the thing about caring; you want it to carry on because you want the person surviving and with you. But there isn’t an endpoint, and it doesn’t get any easier.”

And today, Garraway has announced Draper’s passing in an emotional Instagram post.

She writes: “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.”