Piers Morgan honours ‘astoundingly astute’ Derek Draper and commends ‘remarkable and steadfast’ wife Kate
Piers Morgan has offered his respects to Kate Garraway's husband, Derek Draper, who passed away at the age of 56 following a prolonged struggle with Covid-19 and its associated complications.
Piers Morgan has shared a heartfelt tribute to Derek Draper, the husband of his former colleague Kate Garraway. The bond between Piers and Kate, once co-hosts on Good Morning Britain until his departure in 2021, remained strong, especially during Derek’s challenging health journey.
Following Derek’s contraction of Covid-19 in 2020, he endured multiple hospitalizations, spending a staggering 13 months under medical care. Even after leaving the hospital, Derek required constant support. Throughout this trying time, Kate admirably kept everyone informed about his progress. Recently, she took a hiatus from her work commitments to be by his side after Derek suffered an unexpected heart attack in early December.
Tragically, on January 5, Kate announced Derek’s passing at the age of 56. The news prompted an outpouring of condolences from Kate’s colleagues, who expressed their sympathies both on her social media post and on their ITV programmes.
Piers shared a touching message on X, paying tribute to Derek Draper’s passing. He praised Derek’s intelligence, humour, and the bravery he showed while battling through the challenges brought by Covid. Piers also highlighted the remarkable support and devotion Kate Garraway, Derek’s wife, displayed throughout.
Accompanying his message was an old photo capturing a smiling moment between Derek and Kate. Alongside Piers, Kate’s colleagues at ITV also honoured Derek’s memory. The hosts of Loose Women commenced their show with a heartfelt tribute, while notable personalities like Lisa Snowdon and Carol Vorderman expressed their condolences on Kate’s post.
Kate took to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news of Derek’s passing, expressing her deep sorrow. She recounted his critical condition following a cardiac arrest in December, which, compounded by the lasting effects of Covid from March 2020, led to further complications.
“Derek spent his final days surrounded by loved ones, with me holding his hand through the long hours until his passing. There’s much more I wish to express, which I will do in due time. For now, my heartfelt gratitude goes to the dedicated medical teams who tirelessly worked to save him and ensure his final moments were as dignified and comfortable as possible.
“To all who have generously supported our family, your love and kindness mean the world. Rest peacefully now, Derek, my beloved. I feel fortunate to have had you in my life.”
