Derek Draper: Kate Garraway says husband has died, aged 56

Derek Draper, a former political adviser, passed away at 56, as confirmed by his wife Kate Garraway. He had been hospitalized with Covid in 2020 and faced multiple health challenges thereafter.

The former political adviser Derek Draper, had multiple health issues after first being hospitalised with Covid in 2020.

Television presenter Garraway confirmed her husband’s passing in an Instagram statement, expressing her sadness over the loss. Derek, her husband Derek Draper, had been critically ill since suffering a cardiac arrest in early December, which, compounded by the effects of Covid contracted in March 2020, led to further complications.

In her statement, she conveyed her gratitude to the medical teams who had tirelessly worked to save Derek Draper and make his final moments as comfortable as possible. Garraway also thanked those who had supported her family during this challenging time. She reflected on her profound loss, expressing her love for Derek and acknowledging the privilege of having had him in her life.

Derek Draper had been in a coma from April to October 2020 due to Covid-related complications, and despite clearing the virus by June, he experienced severe damage to his body.

After spending over a year in the hospital without recovering his ability to speak, Draper returned home in April 2021 for a trial period, still under constant care and treatment. In July 2022, Garraway announced that Draper had been readmitted to the hospital, and later that month, news emerged of his deteriorating condition. In December, he was admitted again for further treatment.

Draper’s battle against the virus garnered widespread attention and support, with figures like former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the royal family expressing their solidarity. The family’s adjustment to their new reality due to his rare condition was documented in the ITV film “Finding Derek,” which received a National Television Award.

Garraway, an ITV presenter, has taken an indefinite break from her duties, canceling all of her television and radio commitments.

Draper, hailing from Chorley in Lancashire, served as a Labour Party lobbyist for close to ten years. His departure from politics in 1998 followed his involvement in the “Lobbygate” scandal, where he was recorded boasting about his capacity to facilitate access to government ministers.

Transitioning to a new career, he underwent training as a psychotherapist and became a regular contributor to magazines and newspapers, focusing on psychotherapy topics. He authored two books titled “Blair’s 100 Days” and “Life Support.”

In 2009, he established LabourList, an independent news website that offered support to the Labour Party without direct affiliation.

In 2005, Draper tied the knot with Garraway, and they welcomed two children into their family.