Kate Garraway’s husband has died.

So very sad after such a long battle. RIP Derek and thinking of Kate and his family.

So sad for Kate I heard the announcement on Classic FM where they paid tribute to here and then played the most delightful peace of music which is Scottish I think 'My Dearie' it was very moving. (Apologies to Scottish Gransnetters I don't have the full title).
RIP Derek Draper

RIP

So sad, and yet, such a release. He had suffered enough. RIP.

RIP Derek, Very sad news.

Very sad. It also shows what a dangerous condition Covid was before the vaccines were developed.

Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that.
A blessed relief for him but devastating for Kate and their children.

Condolences to the family.

RIP Derek Draper

RIP. I hope those who say there's no such thing as Long Covid think about it.

Grantanow

RIP. I hope those who say there's no such thing as Long Covid think about it.

I hope that, sad as it is, his legacy will be that people remember just how awful and terrifying the pandemic was at the start and what little information we were given and how [through no fault of their own]the NHS struggled to find the best way to treat people. It was very much trial and error at first. I'm afraid that long covid is being given the same treatment as ME. I had read that the level of care that Derek had been receiving was going to be reduced and that Kate had said she would probably have to give up work completely [I apologise if I've got that wrong, it's just something my partner had read recently]. Such a lovely family. I hope they can find some sort of comfort knowing how respected he was and how people admired how Kate has dealt with the past few years.

Tragic event for him and his family - but I don't think that it really merited a 5+ minute slot on the BBC TV 6 o'clock News...

Bodach

Tragic event for him and his family - but I don't think that it really merited a 5+ minute slot on the BBC TV 6 o'clock News...

5 minutes is not much time to devote to an individual very much in the public eye, and one who spent a record amount of time in hospital suffering from a disease that has, to some extent, affected most people.

... he will be forgotten soon enough.

Bodach just not nice.
Maybee as a longterm sufferer of M.E. I agree.

Poor Derek, I think we were all willing him to pull through. So sad for all the family 😥

Bodach

Tragic event for him and his family - but I don't think that it really merited a 5+ minute slot on the BBC TV 6 o'clock News...

I agree Bodach,how many thousands of others have died of COVID-19 or long Covid and have not been acknowledged, it's only because his wife has constantly brought it into the Media with all her knowledge that we know about it.
Tragic but certainly not unique.

Such terrible news. I feel for Kate and her children.

Bodach

Tragic event for him and his family - but I don't think that it really merited a 5+ minute slot on the BBC TV 6 o'clock News...

I didn't see it as we have guests but yes, I think it does warrant a five minute news item.
Derek Draper was a high profile figure in the political scene during the Blair years, he was married to a well-known and popular TV presenter and his long illness and death from Long Covid is a sobering reminder to us all what this disease can do.

So very sad. 💐

Derek Draper was a disgraced figure of the Blair administration caught on camera boasting about the money he could make. His wife might be well known in the media but why does that mean he warrants time on the main evening news?
I wonder how all the others who lost loved ones but do not have the means or knowledge to get it in the public domain have an even sobering reminder of what this disease can do.

Unkind and unnecessary comment Bella23

Agree , Iam64

Derek Draper was a disgraced figure of the Blair administration caught on camera boasting about the money he could make

I was surprised that the BBC mentioned that at such a sad time.

It was sad news for the family, and his wife did well to keep him in the public eye.
However, I have to agree with others that his death does not justify the media interest.

This is thread started with good intentions as a condolence thread.

If posters have something unpleasant to say, perhaps they'd like to start another thread?

Juliet27

^Derek Draper was a disgraced figure of the Blair administration caught on camera boasting about the money he could make^

I was surprised that the BBC mentioned that at such a sad time.

I'm not being unkind I am being realistic, the BBC showed him yesterday boasting about the money he had made and why he had lost his job with the labour Administration.
What makes him so special from all the others in the world who died and whose loved ones are grieving but do not have the means to bring their grieving to public awareness or perhaps they are doing it quietly in their own way.

Spoiled thread