Kate Garraway shares touching tribute to Derek Draper amid radio return
Kate Garraway has shared a touching tribute to her late husband Derek Draper on her return to radio broadcasting.
Garraway announced Draper's death on January 5 in an Instagram post, in which she revealed he sadly passed away after being "critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications".
The Good Morning Britain presenter returned to her Smooth FM radio show yesterday (February 19) for the first time since Draper passed away. She thanked listeners for their support before playing Elton John's 'Your Song' in honour of her husband.
Related: Kate Garraway recalls daughter's heartbreaking words to Derek Draper before death
"Hello everyone, I am so glad to be back at Smooth. It's just been brilliant to hear the great music again and to see everybody. And thank you for all your really lovely messages. It's so kind of you for you to think of me and also share all your thoughts," Garraway began.
She continued: "I know some of you have been sending me letters and messages about people that you've lost and how important it is to share those feelings.
"So I feel really honoured that you've shared them with me and I'm going to do my best to keep the music flowing.
Related: Kate Garraway's ITV co-stars lead tributes to Derek Draper
"Now you may know that Elton John sang at my husband Derek's funeral and it was a very special moment born out of him just being a lovely man and I just wanted to play him for you this morning."
John, who asked Garraway and Draper to be guests of honour at his Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert last year, performed his song 'Skyline Pigeon' at Draper's funeral on February 2.
Garraway also made an emotional return to Good Morning Britain earlier this month, where she told co-anchor Ben Shepherd: "It's lovely to be back here. It's odd, I feel very weird. The make-up girls had me in tears this morning just by saying hello."
If you identify with the themes in this article, the NHS has resources available to help with grief counselling and other support in the UK. In the US, the CDC also has resources available for those grieving.
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