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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Tina Campbell

Elton John dedicates song to Kate Garraway’s husband Derek as couple enjoy rare night out

Sir Elton John paid tribute to Kate Garraway and her husband as they enjoyed a rare night out at his concert at the London O2 Arena.

The Rocketman singer, 76, was performing as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour and had invited the couple as his special guests.

They had travelled from their North London home to the South East London music venue with their teenage children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 13.

It was quite a feat for Draper, who is thought to be the UK’s worst-affected Covid survivor after contracting it in 2020, and has since experienced ongoing health issues.

Garraway put her career on hold temporarily to care for him and their plight was featured in the documentaries Finding Derek and Caring For Derek.

Kate Garraway pictured with her husband Derek Draper (ITV)

Before dedicating his hit Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me to them, he told the crowd that they had endured “really tough times”.

As per The Sun, he continued: “They’re inspiring. They’ve never given up and I’m so thrilled they’re here, I can’t believe they are here.”

“I want to dedicate this song to the people I mentioned before, but especially to you guys.”

The nod was particularly poignant as Garraway has spoken in the past about how she used to play the singer’s music to her husband when he was in hospital.

During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, she revealed how the star had then reached out to her, saying: “Elton John contacted me. It was so strange.

“I was like, ‘Elton… John?’ We do have a mutual friend, which I didn’t know about. And because of all the work he does with the Aids Foundation he was like, ‘What can I do to help?

“I know a bit about antiviral stuff. And I’m on board. I’ll try to help. He’s incredible.”

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