Kate Garraway and Derek Draper Get the latest entertainment news sent straight to your inbox with our weekly Showbiz newsletter More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Get the latest entertainment news sent straight to your inbox with our weekly Showbiz newsletter Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Kate Garraway fans were left distraught after watching her new ITV documentary Kate Garraway: Derek's Story. The new documentary - which provided viewers with an insight into how the broadcaster cared for her dying husband - aired on Tuesday night, three months after the heartbreaking death of the former political lobbyist. Derek suffered a four-year health battle following his Covid-19 diagnosis before he tragically died in January at the age of 56. He first fell seriously ill in March 2020, spending 98 days in a medically induced coma after his initial diagnosis before going into intensive care, where he reportedly became the longest-surviving patient with
Coronavirus after 184 days. He suffered extreme complications related to the disease and after returning home in April 2021, required round-the-clock care. He was readmitted to hospital in July 2022, and again just before
Christmas 2023 after suffering a heart attack. Read More Related Articles Derek Draper's seven-word request to Kate Garraway and kids before heartbreaking death Read More Related Articles Victoria Beckham praises David for buying 'best gift' as she nurses broken foot Heartbroken Kate announced his sad death in January in a statement, she wrote: "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." Touching moment Derek Draper reads out Kate Garraway's birthday cards with their kids (Image: ITV) Despite grieving her husband and being unsure whether to release the ITV documentary, Kate decided it was important to raise awareness of the effects of long-covid. The couple's teenage kids also appear in the one-off special as their mum shared what it was like to take care of her husband whilst at home. Minutes into the poignant programme, the late Derek wrote on a piece of paper to Kate: "Covid changed everything." Read More Related Articles Giovanni Pernice backed by old partner Michelle Visage in Amanda Abbington feud Read More Related Articles Lorraine Kelly hosts wedding in ITV studio as she celebrates same-sex marriage This led her to ask: "When is this story going to end?" before her husband wrote: "Right here." During one sincere moment, the ITV presenter becomes emotional, recalling her husband's 'crippling care costs'. "Derek's care costs more than my salary from ITV and that's before you pay for a mortgage, before you pay for any household bills, before you pay for anything for the kids," Kate shared. Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story (Image: ITV) "So we're at a crunch point. I am in debt and I can't earn enough money to cover my debt because I'm managing Derek's care. And I can't even use the money I do have to support Derek's recovery because it's going on the basics all the time." She added: "Listen, I'm not going to pretend that I'm poorly paid, I have an incredible
Job that I love which is well paid, but it's not enough." Read More Related Articles Stacey Solomon gushes over Royal Television Society nomination as she shares news with fans Read More Related Articles Sarah Ferguson forced to sell late Queen's £1.5m gift as it was unable to use it Taking to
Social Media, fans touched by the programme shared their thoughts. @granvillesmum said: "@kategarraway thank you for a beautiful programme. You’re only a few years older than me and we could all be where you are. I loved seeing your wedding videos and your lovely kids - thinking of you all xxx" @kerry_tabner chimed: "Just watched @kategarraway documentary breaks my heart. Derek would be so proud of you. More definitely needs to be done for careers" Top showbiz news Kate and William issue new statement New Death in Paradise star Kate Garraway facing huge bill Tyson Fury hints
Paris is pregnant @BernadetteBrag4 added: "God love you Kate , and let Derek’s voice be heard LOUD & CLEAR , NO ONE should be in debt for LOVING & CARING for a loved one. God bless each & every one of youre family" @juliekhumphreys penned: "@kategarraway What a compelling watch this evening, I have nothing but admiration for you. May Derek RIP, love from my family to your family x" Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here . Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Daily Record
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