Ben Shephard shares a message of help for his co-host Kate Garraway

Good Morning Britain presenter Ben Shephard has shared a message of help for his co-host and longtime pal Kate Garraway following the dying of her husband Derek Draper on the age of 56.

Kate introduced the dying of her husband of 18 years on Instagram this morning and mentioned: ‘Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I used to be so fortunate to have you ever in my life.’

Derek suffered a coronary heart assault earlier than Christmas following a protracted battle with Covid.

Ben, 49, shared an image of Derek kissing Kate on the cheek and wrote on Instagram: ‘On what has been the saddest of days @kategarraway I’ve been reminding myself of the fantastic occasions and reminiscences we’ve all shared collectively.

‘This is how I’ll at all times consider Derek – bringing you a lot pleasure, your smile says all of it, the scale of which is matched solely by his love for you, Darcey and Bill. Sending all our love Kate to you and all of the household.

‘Also thanks to everybody who has reached out to me, I promise I’ll move in your messages, I do know they’ll deliver Kate a lot consolation as they’ve for the previous couple of years.’ 

Friends have mentioned heartbroken Kate is ‘bearing up’ after her husband Derek’s dying – as ITV advised the star she may have ‘as a lot day off as she wants’.

A pal of Kate’s advised the Mail: ‘She is doing okay, she is bearing up and is being sturdy for her youngsters.’

Kate who had two youngsters with Derek, Darcey, 17, and their youngest, Billy, 11, mentioned in her emotional Instagram submit: ‘I’m unhappy to should let you know all that my darling husband Derek has handed away.

‘Derek was surrounded by his household in his remaining days and I used to be by his facet holding his hand all through the final lengthy hours and when he handed.

‘I’ve a lot extra to say, and naturally I’ll achieve this sooner or later, however for now I simply need to thank all of the medical groups who fought so onerous to save lots of him and to make his remaining moments as snug and dignified as doable’.

She added: ‘As a few of it’s possible you’ll know he has been critically sick following a cardiac arrest in early December which, due to the harm inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to additional issues.

‘Sending a lot love and because of all of you who’ve so generously given our household a lot help. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I used to be so fortunate to have you ever in my life.’

Mr Draper was a former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson who grew to become a New Labour spin physician and later retrained as a psychotherapist after a sequence of political and lobbying scandals.

Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer will write privately to Ms Garraway on behalf of the Labour Party, the PA information company stories

Tragically Mr Draper was among the many first within the UK to fall significantly sick with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit because the nation entered lockdown in March 2020.

He was one of many nation’s longest-suffering Covid sufferers after being in hospital however by no means totally recovered after the virus left long-lasting harm to his organs and meant he wanted round the clock care.

Former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown led tributes right now. Mr Brown tweeted: ‘So unhappy that after such a courageous wrestle Derek Draper has misplaced his life because of Covid. I’ll keep in mind him as good, artistic and multitalented, and our ideas are with Kate, Darcey and Billy. RIP Derek’.

He suffered an enormous coronary heart assault final month and MailOnline understands he handed away on Wednesday night time in a North London hospital. Kate mentioned that he died surrounded by household and his passing led to a number of associates and former colleagues breaking down on stay TV when the unhappy information broke.

Sir Tony Blair mentioned: ‘I’m so unhappy to listen to the information about Derek. My coronary heart goes out to Kate and their youngsters William and Darcey.

‘It is extraordinary and noteworthy that Derek survived so lengthy after the ravages of Covid. And that was in massive measure as a result of love Derek had for his household and so they for him. This additionally says one thing very particular about Derek.

‘He was a troublesome generally ruthless political operative, a superb adviser and somebody you at all times wished in your facet.

‘But beneath that robust exterior he was a loving, sort, beneficiant and good natured man you wished as a pal.

‘He was an necessary a part of the New Labour story, on the centre of issues proper at the start. But most necessary of all, he was a very good colleague and nice pal. And we’ll miss him deeply.’

Alastair Campbell, a fellow distinguished New Labour determine within the Nineteen Nineties, described Derek Draper as ‘an enormous character’.

The ex-No 10 director of communications tweeted: ‘Very unhappy to listen to the information about Derek Draper. He was an enormous character, a giver not a taker, and had a lot extra to present earlier than Covid took its toll.

‘Sad above all for @kategarraway and the youngsters. Their love and help was profound and unshakeable to the tip. RIP’.

Speaking to Times Radio, Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle mentioned Derek’s dying was a ‘full tragedy’.

He added: ‘We’ve seen Kate and the youngsters taking care of Derek, supporting him, and (individuals) have to be in awe that Kate has been so devoted.

‘The indisputable fact that she had this nice profession of her personal, however what she did, she put Derek first, and the youngsters had been supporting him throughout. My coronary heart goes out for them.’

He summed up: ‘I’ll keep in mind him for his controversy, his vibrancy and his humour that at all times shone by means of.’

Derek had been plagued with well being woes after contracting Covid in 2020 and suffered a cardiac arrest in early December, with Kate spending Christmas at hospital. Ms Garraway and Mr Draper married in 2005 and have two youngsters, Darcey and Billy.

In an interview with The Times in September 2023, Kate shared that she apprehensive about her youngsters throughout her husband’s well being wrestle.

Looking again on their lives, Kate confessed she just isn’t ‘outfitted’ for elevating their teenage youngsters with out her husband.

‘My intuition is at all times preserve every part good, preserve every part good, however he was at all times effective with stand-up rows,’ she mentioned. ‘He mentioned it was all about boundary-setting, so I at all times felt he was going to be wonderful of their teenagers.

‘So I really feel, like, ‘Derek, of all of the occasions, I’m not outfitted for this with out you.’ And it makes me miss the outdated Derek a lot.’

In 2022, Kate was pressured to take the robust determination to shutter her husband’s agency after it racked up money owed of just about £200,000 when he was struck down with Covid.

Derek’s as soon as profitable psychotherapy firm, Astra Aspera Ltd, owed £184,000 — together with £125,000 in taxes. A liquidator was appointed to interrupt up the agency’s property.

Kate has additionally opened up concerning the monetary burden of paying for Derek’s care, telling The Sun final 12 months that ‘prices have gone by means of the roof in so some ways’.

She added that their house has wanted to be tailored to swimsuit Derek’s wants, and that her working life has been impacted because of her husband’s sickness.

Lorraine Kelly is amongst those that have despatched messages of help to Kate Garraway after she introduced her husband Derek Draper has died following struggling long-lasting signs from coronavirus.

In the feedback of Garraway’s announcement submit on Instagram, Kelly wrote to her comply with ITV presenter: ‘So sorry Kate. You fought so onerous. Just extremely unhappy. Sending you like’.

Radio host Zoe Ball mentioned she was ‘heartbroken’ for Garraway and her youngsters.

She added: ‘So a lot love coming your manner from so many. May Derek’s star at all times shine brightest for you xxxx’

Singer and presenter Peter Andre mentioned he was ‘sorry’ to listen to the information, including: ‘We ship all our love. Thoughts with you all.’

Comedian Alan Carr additionally shared his sympathies with the TV presenter, saying: Oh Kate that is so terrible. Sending you a lot love and the deepest condolences.’

Kate’s Good Morning Britain and GMTV co-presenter Eamonn Holmes mentioned in a touch upon her Instagram submit: ‘Thinking of you and the youngsters Kate . He was many issues, together with too younger. Sad occasions. With deepest condolences Eamonn.’

Other tributes got here thick and quick from the likes of Paul Hollywood, Steps star Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh, TV presenter Kate Thornton and The Prince’s Trust.

A distinguished determine in New Labour within the Nineteen Nineties, Mr Draper labored for Blairite Peter Mandelson and arrange the Progress organisation with Liam Byrne, who went on to turn out to be an MP.

After he was embroiled within the so-called ‘cash-for-access’ scandal, dubbed ‘lobbygate’, he travelled to the United States, the place he retrained as a psychotherapist.

In 2021, Ms Garraway gained a prize on the National Television Awards for the documentary Finding Derek, about her household’s expertise throughout the pandemic.

It detailed her husband’s therapy and his subsequent return to their household house.

She has additionally written books about her expertise of caring for her husband, together with The Power of Hope and The Strength of Love, the latter of which got here out in September.

In July 2022, Garraway confirmed Mr Draper had been readmitted to hospital and later that month it was reported that his situation had worsened.

His battle with the virus gained a lot consideration and help, together with from former prime minister Boris Johnson and the royal household.

Former lobbyist and political adviser Mr Draper was a part of one among Britain’s most distinguished media energy {couples} .

The New Labour spin physician reached nice heights of affect within the Nineteen Nineties however grew to become finest recognized for his involvement within the ‘lobbygate’ scandal.

After leaving Mandelson’s staff, Mr Draper grew to become a director of lobbying agency GPC Market Access in 1996 and arrange the New Labour organisation Progress with Liam Byrne, who went on to turn out to be an MP.

It was whereas working at GPC that Mr Draper was caught on tape boasting to an undercover journalist of his authorities connections.

In one of many first sleaze scandals to hit Tony Blair’s fledgling administration, he reportedly claimed: ‘There are 17 individuals who rely on this authorities, and to say I’m intimate with all of them is the understatement of the century.’

Mr Draper insisted he had achieved nothing fallacious within the so-called ‘money for entry’ scandal dubbed ‘lobbygate’ however admitted he did have a ‘huge mouth’.

The incident appeared to spell the tip of any larger political ambitions for the famously champagne-swilling New Labour stalwart and he travelled to the United States, the place he educated as a psychotherapist.

In 2005, Mr Draper married Ms Garraway, the GMTV co-presenter who’s now a part of the Good Morning Britain staff on ITV and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in November 2019.

In 2008 he returned to the Labour highlight as the top of the web site LabourRecord, a left-wing rival to on-line portals similar to Conservative Home.

He hit the headlines once more in 2009 and stepped down as editor of LabourRecord after electronic mail correspondence between him and Damian McBride, one among Gordon Brown’s key aides, was leaked.

In the emails, Mr McBride proposed a marketing campaign of unfounded private smears in opposition to senior Conservatives on a brand new weblog known as RedRag, an concept praised by Mr Draper as ‘completely, completely good’.

In a resignation assertion launched to the Guardian, Mr Draper acknowledged that his continued presence at LabourRecord – which was initially set as much as talk about severe coverage concepts – was detracting from the web site.

‘I remorse ever receiving the notorious electronic mail and I remorse my silly, hasty reply. I ought to have mentioned immediately that the concept was fallacious,’ he mentioned.

‘I do ask individuals to keep in mind that its contents had been by no means revealed by me, or anybody else, concerned within the Labour Party and they’d by no means have seen the sunshine of day had been it not for somebody hacking into my emails and inserting them into the general public area.

‘Because of that, a foolish concept finally destined for the trash can grew to become a nationwide scandal.’

Mr Draper was as soon as once more consigned to the Labour wilderness and have become chief government of a management consultancy, compiling weekly emails summarising one of the best content material for enterprise and HR leaders.

In 2019 he introduced he was resigning his Labour Party membership.

However, he remained involved together with his outdated political associates, attending Lord Mandelson’s marriage ceremony to spouse Reinaldo in October.

Mandelson mentioned in a tribute: ‘Derek was a very exceptional and particular particular person and Reinaldo and I had been so happy that, regardless of every part he has gone by means of, he got here to our marriage ceremony on the finish of October, as regular lighting up the room.

‘He confirmed expertise in every part he turned his hand to and had he not been so tragically affected by Covid I may have imagined him pursuing one other good profession.

‘He adored his household, Kate, Darcey and Billy, and so they, like us all, adored him again.’

Mr Draper’s medical case attracted a lot media consideration, partly due to his marriage to Ms Garraway, and partly due to the size of his hospital keep.

Some media reported that he had turn out to be the nation’s longest-suffering affected person after spending 13 months in hospital.

In early July 2022, Ms Garraway disclosed that Derek had been readmitted to hospital and later that month dropped out of presenting Good Morning Britain as his situation worsened.

The following February, the ITV sequence Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek aired on ITV, and documented Draper’s arrival house from the hospital whereas additionally following Garraway as she navigated the ‘myriad challenges of the social care system and its complexities’.

Mr Draper was photographed by his spouse’s facet in June, regardless of being out and in of hospital, when she collected her MBE from the Prince of Wales in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

He was additionally pictured in October at Lord Mandelson’s marriage ceremony, shaking fingers with the ex-first secretary of state.

In December, The Sun reported that Mr Draper had ‘suffered an enormous coronary heart assault’ and mentioned Garraway was protecting a 24/7 vigil by his bedside.