Former lobbyist and political adviser Derek Draper, who was married to TV presenter Kate Garraway, has died aged 56 after suffering long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus.
A statement from Garraway on Instagram said: “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.”
Her “incredible challenges” in dealing with Mr Draper’s long illness and chronicling “the darkest time” in her family’s life through documentaries has also been hailed by ITV stars.
In December, it was reported on GMB that he was in “a very serious condition” after suffering a heart attack.
Garraway also wrote: “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.”
Garraway will be taking a break from her TV and radio presenting roles for the time being but she does plan to return to work in the future, the PA news agency understands.
Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, former number 10 director of communications Alastair Campbell and shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds were among those to pay tribute.
Sir Tony said Mr Draper was “an important part of the New Labour story, at the centre of things right at the beginning” who will be missed as a “good colleague and great friend”.
He also said: “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.”
A prominent figure in New Labour in the 1990s, Mr Draper worked for Blairite Lord Mandelson and set up the Progress organisation with Liam Byrne, who went on to become an MP.
After he was embroiled in the so-called “cash-for-access” scandal, dubbed “lobbygate”, he travelled to the United States, where he retrained as a psychotherapist.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Reynolds recalled that Mr Draper was “thoughtful and kind, quite different to his public image at the time” when he first met him as a student, while Mr Campbell described him as a “giver not a taker”.
Mr Campbell also wrote: “Sad above all for @kategarraway and the children. Their love and support was profound and unshakeable to the end. RIP”.
Mr Draper fell seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital before he was discharged.
Despite being free of the virus, he had suffered long-lasting damage to his organs and required daily care.
In 2021, Good Morning Britain presenter 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.
In July 2022, Garraway confirmed Mr Draper had been readmitted to hospital and later that month it was reported that his condition had worsened.
His battle with the virus won much attention and support, including from former prime minister Boris Johnson and the royal family.
During a time 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.
He also attended Sir Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert at London’s O2 Arena in April after being invited along with Garraway as the guests of honour.
Commenting on her Friday post, Sir Elton wrote: “So sorry to hear of this news, Kate. Love and thoughts to you and your family x.”
Also sending their condolences to Garraway were BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball, singers Peter Andre and Alesha Dixon, Line Of Duty actress Vicky McClure and comedian Alan Carr.
Saying she was “heartbroken” for Garraway, Ball wrote: “So much love coming your way from so many. May Dereks star always shine brightest for you xxxx.”
Garraway has also released Caring For Derek, which talked about the “myriad challenges of the social care system and its complexities” when Mr Draper returned home, and a third ITV documentary had been planned.
She has also brought out several books to help others by describing her experience, including The Power Of Hope: The Moving Memoir From ITV’s Kate Garraway.
The Strength Of Love: Embracing An Uncertain Future With Resilience And Optimism, which explores how her family’s lives have been affected, came out in September.
On ITV’s Loose Women, Kaye Adams said that her and the public have been “full of admiration for the way” that Garraway and her family have dealt with Draper’s illness.
During the programme, Coronation Street actress Sue Cleaver said: “We all got to accompany Kate on this terrible journey through these amazing documentaries that she made.
“(It was) the darkest time of their lives, and yet she was still able to highlight the roles of carers everywhere today and my heart is just with them and so, so sorry to hear the news.”
Garraway and Mr Draper married in 2005 and have two children, Darcey and Billy.
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