Elton John among mourners at Draper funeral

Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, musician Sir Elton John and Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer were among those who attended the funeral of TV presenter Kate Garraway’s husband, Derek Draper.

Garraway, 56, wearing a long black coat and pearl necklace and carrying a candle, left the Church of St Mary The Virgin in Primrose Hill, northwest London with the couple’s children, Darcey and Billy yesterday.

Former political lobbyistturned-psychologist Draper married the Good Morning Britain (GMB) presenter at the same church in September 2005.

Their daughter, Darcey, acted as a pall bearer when the coffin, covered with purple and white flowers, made its way out of the church.

Draper fell seriously ill during the early part of the Covid pandemic in March 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital before he was discharged. He died on January 3 aged 56 after suffering long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus.

A key figure in the early years of New Labour in the 1990s, Draper was a former researcher for Lord Peter Mandelson.

Former Labour MPS such as

Darcey Draper carries her father’s coffin after the funeral mass at St Mary the Virgin Church in London. Kate Garraway and son Billy Draper, top right and Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish

Lord Mandelson and Ed Balls – who also now works as a GMB presenter – paid their respects.

Mourners also included shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband, Sir Tony’s wife Cherie Blair and former No 10 director of communications Alastair Campbell.

Draper set up the Progress organisation with Liam Byrne, who went on to become a Labour MP, and was also an author. He wrote the book Blair’s Hundred Days which chronicled some of Sir Tony’s first year as prime minister, along with Life Support: A Survival Guide For The Modern Soul.

Sir Elton, who attended the funeral with his husband

David Furnish and had offered comfort to Garraway and Draper through the illness, held the order of service in his hands as he exited the church.

The hymns sung includes Lord Of The Dance by Sydney Carter and psalm 23, The Lord's My Shepherd.

A choir also performed songs in this order: Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, Alleluia!, Sanctus And Benedictus, Agnus Dei, God Be In My Head by Sir Henry Walford Davies and canticle Nunc Dimittis.

GMB stars Charlotte Hawkins, Ben Shephard, Richard Madeley, Alex Beresford, Rob Rinder, Susanna Reid, Sean Fletcher and Richard Arnold also attended the funeral.

Singer and TV presenter Myleene Klass, who has previously stepped in to host Garraway’s radio show, and actress Tina Hobley, who has been on Holby City and presented on Smooth Radio, were also among at the service.

Sir Elton had previously invited Draper and Garraway to be guests of honour at his Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert at London’s O2 Arena last year.

Garraway told her Smooth Radio listeners in April 2023 that Sir Elton had been “so supportive” of her family since her husband fell ill.

Draper was admitted to hospital in December after suffering a heart attack.