Derek Draper replace: Tributes pour in as GMB’s Kate Garraway announces sad news about husband

Derek Draper, the husband of TV presenter Kate Garraway, has sadly died, aged 56.

The Good Morning Britain host has been caring for Draper ever since he contracted Covid in March 2020 . His loss of life follows a coronary heart assault in December 2023.

Kate Garraway can be absent from her roles on ITV and Smooth Radio following the loss of life of her husband, Derek Draper, on Friday.

Soon after Derek Draper’s loss of life was introduced on Friday, following a years-long battle with lengthy Covid, colleagues of his spouse Kate Garraway expressed their condolences on-line.

Susanna Reid and Charlotte Hawkins led messages of assist to their fellow Good Morning Britain host.

Hawkins described the news as “absolutely heartbreaking” and despatched “much love” to Garraway. In a put up on Instagram, Hawkins additionally requested others to ship Garraway “love and prayers” presently.

Jenny Eclair has shared a message of support for Kate Garraway after husband Derek Draper’s loss of life, practically 4 years after contracting Covid.

“What a warrior Kate Garraway has been throughout the trauma of her husband’s illness, this has been such a tragedy and she has been extraordinary,” she wrote on X/Twitter on Saturday (6 January).

TV economist and frequent Good Morning Britain contributor Martin Lewis shared his condolences on social media on Friday, in which he despatched like to Kate Garraway.

“I’m sad to hear of Derek Draper passing,” his put up on X/Twitter started.

“We had a few dinners out together with Kate and Derek and he was also a great big, warm, fun man. That’s how he should be remembered – he would’ve liked the attention 🙂 Wishing Kate and the family love and ease through the pain.

“I hope they are left to grieve in peace & privacy, and the end of this tragic chapter lets them move on and recover the joy in their lives.”

Former prime minister Gordon Brown is one in every of many high-profile figures to have expressed disappointment following Derek Draper’s loss of life.

On Friday, the Scottish politician wrote on X/Twitter: “So sad that after such a brave struggle Derek Draper has lost his life as a result of Covid.

“I will remember him as brilliant, creative and multitalented, and our thoughts are with Kate, Darcey and Billy. RIP Derek.”

In a tribute to Derek Draper, The Independent’s affiliate editor Sean O’Grady recalled first assembly him in the late Nineties throughout Draper’s time as a Labour staffer.

He wrote: “[Draper] was a young man working with Peter Mandelson in the New Labour project, during and after the 1997 election landslide – lively company, dedicated, thoughtful, and obviously gifted with a high level of what you might call ‘political intelligence’.”

You can learn the tribute in full right here:

Coronation Street actress Sue Cleaver additionally hailed Garraway for her documentaries about their life with Draper‘s illness.

She 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.”

In 2021, Garraway won a prize at the National Television Awards for the documentary Finding Derek, about her family’s expertise throughout the pandemic.

She adopted the particular up with Caring For Derek, and had a 3rd ITV documentary deliberate.