CELEBRITY DEATH – Kate Garraway will today say goodbye to her beloved husband Derek Draper at his funeral following his death aged 56.
Family and friends are gathering at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill for Derek’s funeral this morning.
Big Names From Sectors Converge
Sir Elton John was among the stars from the showbiz world to attend. Sir Tony Blair and Sir Keir Starmer were the big names from the world of politics, where Derek worked for many years.
Kate’s Good Morning Britain colleagues Ben Shephard, Susanna Reid were amongst the first to arrive at the north London church. GMB alumni including Piers Morgan and Charlotte Hawkins also attended the sad event.
Fiona Phillips and her ITV exec husband Martin Frizell also arrived with GMB presenter Sean Fletcher and Robert Rinder, shortly before Derek’s former boss Peter Mandelson swept in.
Labour leader Keir Starmer arrived after MP turned TV star Ed Balls also came to say farewell as Mylene Klass and other stars also came to the funeral.
Prior to his Death
Mr Draper was among the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.
He was one of the country’s longest-suffering Covid patients after being in hospital but never fully recovered after the virus left long-lasting damage to his organs and meant he needed round-the-clock care.
Cause of Death
He suffered a heart attack before Christmas and never recovered.
Kate revealed Derek died as she held his hand ‘throughout the last long hours and when he passed’ on January 5.
The Good Morning Britain star, 56, announced the death of her husband of 18 years on Instagram and said: ‘Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.’
Derek suffered a heart attack before Christmas following a long battle with Covid.
Kate, who had two children with Derek, Darcey, 17, and their youngest, Billy, 11, said: ‘I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.
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‘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’.
She added: ‘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.
‘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.’
