Kate Garraway on Derek Draper's last days where he couldn't 'open eyes or speak'
Kate Garraway has paid a heartfelt tribute to husband Derek Draper after he was laid to rest at his funeral on Friday.
The 56-year-old Good Morning Britain presenter put on a brave face as she made her first TV appearance since Derek's sad death. Kate joined hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley on Good Morning Britain just three days after she was supported by their two children, son Billy, 14, and 17-year-old daughter Darcey, as well as friends, family and colleagues from the worlds of politics and entertainment, as they said their final goodbyes to former political adviser Derek.
In a heartbreaking moment at the funeral, daughter Darcey was seen carrying her father's coffin into the Church of St Mary The Virgin in Primrose Hill, north London, the same place her parents married nearly two decades ago in 2005. The couple had been planning to renew their vows before the father-of-two fell ill in March 2020.
Kate Garraway shares Derek couldn't open his eyes in final moments before death (ITV)While Kate invited press to take photos outside the funeral they were not allowed into the service as she preferred to keep it a private affair. But speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday morning, she thanked her ITV colleagues and her followers for their love and support: "The love that we have as a family all together, we are all so connected in all our joys and all our fun and the challenges of life which poor Derek has faced head on. The love and support makes me weep."
After Richard asked Kate how she managed to keep it all together all the way through Derek's sickness, the mum-of-two explained: "I'm not sure I did it very well. I think I relied on everyone else. I think I have a massive debt to a lot of people - especially Derek. The children have also been extraordinary throughout it all. It feels like five years and also five minutes since I was in the studio.
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"Derek had been in such a great place before his cardiac arrest. It was the furthest from the spectrum of death at that time. Then it was one of those stop the clock moments. It swamps you. We were then told we had 24 hours but it turned out that he held on for a month."
Kate revealed that at the end, Derek couldn't open his eyes or speak. She also said to Derek 'if you need to go don't worry about us' before he passed away. Kate said her “emotions are at 110%” following the funeral of her husband, Derek and spoke of her “outpouring of love for everyone that has supported me”.
In the interview, Kate said she was told Draper had 24 hours to live a month before he eventually died. She also discussed her daughter Darcey’s role as a pallbearer at the service, saying: “She insisted on doing it and I thought it was a beautiful thing.”
Of Darcey and son Billy, she added: “For their grieving, we are in the foothills, we know there is a long way to go. They didn’t want to pressure him to keep going. I don’t think he did feel that, I think he kept going because he wanted to be here.”
Kate and Derek Draper share Darcey and Billy (Tim Merry)Stars who turned out to support Kate included Sir Elton John, who arrived with a walking stick following a foot injury, and his husband David Furnish. Kate's GMB family, including Ben Shephard, Susanna Reid, Charlotte Hawkins, Richard Arnold, Laura Tobin and Alex Beresford were also in attendance.
Big names from the political world Derek was once immersed in as a Labour lobbyist who came to pay their respects included former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Keir Starmer, Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and Alistair Campbell.
The funeral comes almost one month after Derek died holding Kate's hand after an agonising four-year battle to recover from Covid-19. Speaking on Instagram on the day of Derek's passing she wrote: "I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away."
She continued: “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."
Kate and her son Billy at Derek's funeral (PA)
Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish attending the funeral service of Derek Draper at St Mary the Virgin church in Primrose Hill, north west London. The former lobbyist turned psychologist and author, who married presenter Kate Garraway in 2005, died last month following long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus. Picture date: Friday February 2, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story FUNERAL Draper. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire (PA)Derek, who was born in Chorley, Lancashire, started his political career while studying at the University of Manchester. He provided hospitality for Ken Livingstone, who had missed his train after a Labour Club meeting and needed accommodation for the night.
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He officially began his political journey in 1990 as the constituency secretary for Nick Brown. Derek also worked as a researcher for Peter Mandelson, the then MP for Hartlepool. In 1996, he became a director of a lobbying firm called GPC Market Access.
Derek also worked as the Political Editor of the Modern Review and hosted a show on Talk Radio. He wrote a column for the Daily Express and authored two books, Blair's 100 Days and Life Support. After leaving politics, Derek retrained as a psychotherapist, earning an MA in clinical psychology.
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