Derek told me to always fight for what I believe in
New Kate Garraway hubby show
Derek Draper’s final year with his wife kate Garraway and their family is the subject of a documentary voiced by the man himself.
The former political lobbyist, who died in January aged 56 after suffering Covid complications, wanted the ITV cameras to film his fight for survival.
Presenter Kate says the message he said he wanted to share in Derek’s Story was: “Never give up fighting for what you believe in and for the people you love.”
His medical fight has already been the subject of two award-winning films, Finding Derek and Caring for Derek.
The film will show he returned to hospital in mid-December after a heart attack and was never well enough to leave, with Kate, 56, spending much of Christmas by his bedside.
Kate said that he told her that he wanted to make another documentary in January 2023 when he started feeling better after having sepsis.
She explained: “I said, ‘Well, if we do, I think we should work on it together and it should be your story, told in your voice.’
“Derek got very emotional, because his words were so limited and there were so many things he wanted to say.
So we set out to make Derek’s Story together to highlight how he and our family are just one of millions who have to deal with disability or illness. And we wanted to celebrate the incredible work of carers, both professional and those who do it out of love.” Popular Derek, whose funeral was attended by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Elton John and Keir Starmer, had been seriously ill since he contracted Covid in 2020. Kate, mum to their teenage children Darcey, 18, and Billy, 14, said that the family have “a long way to go” to deal with the grief of losing him. But she added: “We are also so grateful to have had the chance to care for Derek and have the extra four years with him that so many don’t.”
■ Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story airs on ITV1 and will be available to stream on ITVX on Tuesday at 9pm.