TRUE LOVE
Inside Kate Garraway & Derek Draper’s love story as GMB star fell in love ‘at first sight’
The pair were introduced by a famous face and weren't that keen on each other at first
KATE Garraway's husband Derek Draper has died following a four-year battle with Covid.
He was taken dangerously ill in December as Kate canned all presenting commitments to be with him.
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In a heartbreaking tribute today, 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."
It is understood he died at a North London hospital on Wednesday.
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Derek, 56, was struck down by Covid in March 2020.
It comes as...
- Kate revealed she held her husband's hand as he died
- Derek's last photo shows him with the GMB presenter as she received an MBE
- Kate's co-stars including Susanna Reid have led tributes to the dad-of-two
- Derek's health battles revealed after he suffered heart attack before Christmas
Kate, also 56, has been by his side from day one and spoken candidly about their family's journey - from adapting their home to round-the-clock care.
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Theirs is an unbreakable bond that stretches back 24 years to the day they were introduced by ex-GMTV political editor and former MP Gloria De Piero.
She initially asked Kate if she had any single friends who would want to meet Derek.
They went out for drinks at Claridges in a group but it wasn't love at first sight.
Speaking to , Kate recalled: "Derek arrived thinking it was a date and that I was being incredibly cool by ignoring him."
She did however then agree to a date with the former political advisor and psychotherapist.
"He asked me out, but the day of our date called to say he had a clash," said Kate.
"He’d promised to serve wine at an amateur watercolour painting exhibition at his church. I really thought it was a wind-up.
"But I turned up and he was indeed serving wine to the congregation in a salmon-pink jumper."
Their loved blossomed and the pair were married the following year, tying the knot in Camden, North London, in September 2005.
She told Fabulous at the time: “We’d planned the wedding for the end of summer, but I don’t suppose we’ll be booking anything now because we don’t really know what we can do."
Together they have two children - daughter Darcey, born March 2006 and William 'Billy', born July 2009.
Derek became one of the longest hospitalised Covid patients in Britain, returning home 13-months after being admitted.
What followed was a torrid couple of years of heartbreaking setbacks combined with promising steps forwards.
In June 2023 Derek watched on as his Good Morning Britain star wife was awarded an MBE.
He attended the ceremony at Windsor Castle on June 28, where Kate was presented the award by Prince William for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.
But just days later Kate revealed Derek had in fact been rushed to hospital after the ceremony.
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In September, Kate fought back tears as she demanded a meeting with the Health Secretary and revealed details of Derek’s ‘’new infection’’.
On November 23, Kate appeared on Loose Women and says Derek is back in hospital before revealing "his brain is now his worst enemy’’.
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