ITV have announced that Kate Garraway and her family are set to feature in a new film documenting the final year of her husband Derek Draper’s life before his death in January following a battle with long Covid.
Titled Kate Garraway: Derek's Story and set to air later this month, it follows the two previous award-winning films Finding Derek and Caring for Derek.
According to a synopsis, it will “provide an insight into Draper’s personal struggles with illness and highlight the challenges faced by millions of people in the UK living with serious illness and disability and those who care for them.”
Filmed in May 2023, it will “confront head on the reality of Draper’s struggles and give 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 aims to highlight 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 Draper’s care, as well as Kathryn Smith, CEO from charity Social Care Institute for Excellence.
Viewers will also get a glimpse at Draper’s life before Covid, including his high-profile political career, as well his relationship with Garraway, their early years together and how Draper’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, Draper said: "I want to be heard."
For her part, Garraway said: “Obviously when we started making this documentary early last year, we had no idea the events that would unfold that ultimately took Derek from us.
“And in January 2024, I wondered if it was right that it should ever come to air. But I didn’t want to let those who have given us so much support over the last four years down, and the carers paid and unpaid who in their thousands of letters to me, feel Derek’s story has given them a voice.
“Also, I remembered so vividly that the idea of making this third documentary at all came from Derek himself.”
She added: “I am delighted that the film is a tribute to Derek, his incredible spirit and a tribute to all of those who fight on to make every second of lifecount, whatever is thrown at them.”
Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller of Factual at ITV, said: “We can see in Derek Draper’s story, the individual tragedy of a life devastated by illness, but also the wider perspective of how a family is impacted. Derek’s desire for his story to be filmed, along with Kate in their home, provides an insight into both their personal struggles as well highlighting the exhausting challenges of caring for a family member in the home within our care system.”
