Derek Draper’s heartbreaking plea in new Kate Garraway doc that tracks the final year of his life battling long Covid
BRAVE Kate Garraway has backed a heartbreaking new documentary following Derek Draper’s final months.
Following the sad loss of her husband in January this year, ITV will show Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story.
It comes after Kate’s two previous award-winning films, Finding Derek and Caring for Derek.
ITV say the film provides an insight into the family’s struggles and highlight the challenges faced by millions of people in the UK living with serious illness and disability.
When asked why he wanted to take part in this film, Derek said: “I want to be heard.”
Kate said: “Obviously when we started making this documentary early last year, we had no idea the events that would unfold that ultimately took Derek from us.
“And in January 2024, I wondered if it was right that it should ever come to air.
“But I didn’t want to let those who have given us so much support over the last four years down, and the carers paid and unpaid who in their thousands of letters to me, feel Derek’s story has given them a voice.
“Also, I remembered so vividly that the idea of making this third documentary at all came from Derek himself.”
Joining Derek and Kate in May 2023, the film confronts head on the reality of Derek’s struggles and the effect on all those around while also capturing their private family moments.
The broadcaster says the film will also cover Derek’s life before Covid, including his high-profile political career, as well his relationship with Kate, their early years together and how Derek’s illness changed the nature of their dynamic while they maintained their close bond.
Kate added: “I am delighted that the film is a tribute to Derek, his incredible spirit and a tribute to all of those who fight on to make every second of life count, whatever is thrown at them.”
There will also be words spoken by Jake, the care worker who supported Derek, and Kathryn Smith, chief executive of charity the Social Care Institute for Excellence.
Jo Clinton-Davis, controller of factual at ITV, said: “We can see in Derek Draper’s story the individual tragedy of a life devastated by illness, but also the wider perspective of how a family is impacted.
Derek's four-year struggle
MARCH 30, 2020: Derek is rushed unresponsive to hospital with Covid.
APRIL 24: He is put into an induced coma.
JUNE 5: Kate reveals Derek is Covid free but his body suffered damage.
JULY 5: He awakens from a deep coma but remains “minimally conscious”.
SEPTEMBER 6: Kate then reveals Derek lost eight stone and cannot speak.
SEPTEMBER 29: Becomes the longest-suffering Covid patient after spending 184 days in hospital.
OCTOBER 30: Wakes from coma and speaks for first time in seven months.
OCTOBER 31: He is finally taken off ventilator after 214 days in hospital.
JANUARY 7, 2021: Kate reveals kids got to visit Derek at Christmas — the first time since he was hospitalised.
APRIL 9: Derek returns home after over a year, but needs full-time care.
MAY 4: He is able to converse more.
DECEMBER 22: Pictured in public for the first time at a panto.
FEBRUARY 21, 2022: Kate says they secretly flew to Mexico for medical trial.
JULY 6: Derek is rushed back into hospital.
AUGUST 1: He is in intensive care with “life-threatening” sepsis.
JUNE 28, 2023: He sees wife Kate made MBE.
OCTOBER 8: Kate reveals Derek is “not doing great” after an infection.
NOVEMBER 23: In hospital for treatment to help with movement.
DECEMBER 11: Taken ill and suffers heart attack.
JANUARY 5, 2024: Kate announces Derek has passed away.
“Derek’s desire for his story to be filmed, along with Kate in their home, provides an insight into both their personal struggles as well highlighting the exhausting challenges of caring for a family member in the home within our care system.”
Colleen Flynn, executive producer at Flicker Productions, added: “We thank Kate and Derek for sharing their story at the most intimate of times and hope that this film goes some way to highlighting the need for the positive change they both hoped for within the care system.”
Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story will air on ITV1 and ITVX later this month.
It comes after Finding Derek – which followed the family’s journey through the pandemic and detailed Derek’s treatment.
The programme gave an insight into his return to their family home and saw Kate awarded the documentary prize at the 2021 National Television Awards (NTA).
Caring For Derek next showed the “myriad challenges of the social care system and its complexities”, and Kate won the same NTA gong.
Who was Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper?
Derek Draper lost his ongoing health battle, and died aged just 56.
He was born on August 15, 1967, in Chorley, Lancashire and studied at Runshaw College in Leyland before going to the University of Manchester.
Derek was a political aide to former Labour cabinet minister Peter Mandelson and was at the centre of the scandal known as “Lobbygate” in 1998.
Following this, he re-trained as a psychotherapist and spent three years in California obtaining his degree.
In the late 90s, he worked as the Political Editor of the Modern Review, was briefly a columnist for the Daily Express, and presented on Talk Radio.
In 2009, Derek became the founder and editor of the blog LabourList.
However, he stepped down as editor after another scandal over leaked emails, which involved messages sent to him by Gordon Brown’s special adviser, Damian McBride.
The emails proposed using the blog to smear senior Conservative MPs and their spouses.
After 35 years, Derek decided to revoke his membership with the Labour Party on August 23, 2019.
During his career, he was also a published author and had written books such as Blair’s 100 Days and Life Support.
HEALTH BATTLE
In March 2020, Derek was rushed to hospital after contracting Covid and spent 214 days on a ventilator.
He also spent nearly four months in an induced coma and lost eight stone, as well as his ability to speak properly.
After he moved back home in April 2021, Derek required round the clock care.
In August 2022 he was rushed back to hospital with “life-threatening” sepsis which sparked more ongoing health issues.
In December last year, wife Kate was by her husband’s side once more after he suffered a huge heart attack.
Sadly, on January 5, 2024, Derek passed away following his three year health battle.
Kate revealed she held her husband’s hand as he passed away.
In a moving Instagram post 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.”
Derek’s funeral was held on February 2, 2024, which saw his family and friends gather to pay their last respects.
Guests including Tony Blair, Elton John, Susanna Reid, Ben Shephard, Keir Starmer and Myleene Klass all sang Lord of the Dance.
A source said: “It was a heart-wrenching day, but an incredible send-off for a wonderful man.
“Kate, Darcey and Billy were so, so strong throughout, and would have been hugely touched by the incredible turn-out; it was testament to Derek’s popularity in every area of his life.
“Kate wore Derek’s watch so that she could carry a little piece of him on the day, and everyone was, of course, so kind to her. Quite simply, the public outpouring of support has kept her going of late.”