Kate Garraway has expressed her gratitude to Sir Elton John after he invited the TV presenter and her family to attend his concert in London and revealed it took “weeks of planning” to be able to get husband Derek Draper there.
Draper, 55, is believed to be one of the UK’s worst-affected survivors of Covid after contracting the virus at the start of the pandemic in 2020.
The former spin doctor is a huge fan of the Rocketman singer and Good Morning Britain presenter Garraway used to play his music whilst he was hospitalised in a coma.
In addition to inviting them both to the show at the London O2 Arena on Monday along with their two children, Sir Elton also dedicated his hit song Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me to the couple, who he hailed as “inspirational”.
Reflecting on the experience to Smooth Radio, Garraway admitted it was a bit touch and go getting there.
She said: “Right up to the last minute, I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to get Derek there. It took weeks of planning and just days before, it looked like he would be too sick to attend. Even on the journey there, he seemed so weak.
“But as soon as we got into the stadium and Elton went on stage, he started weeping tears of joy, and squeezed my hand so tightly. He refused to wear ear defenders for an hour so he could hear the music.”
At one point, it all got a bit too much for Draper, who had to take a breather from the action in the hallway.
Garraway explained: “At one point it all seemed like it might be all too much for him and he started shaking. His nurses and I took him outside the hall to let him have a moment to stretch and relax in the dark and silence. After a while, I asked him if it was time to go and he said, ‘No… want to go back’, so we gave him ear defenders to reduce the stimulation and wheeled him back to the concert.
“It must have been fate as that was the exact moment Elton suddenly dedicated ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ to Derek and his journey. We were all in tears, the kids, Derek and even the nurses. It was completely unexpected. People around us were so lovely and started clapping which was an extraordinary moment we will all treasure forever and Elton made it possible.”
She continued: “Derek has been stuck at home for so long, so for him to experience that joy and be part of so many people’s amazing evening was just magical. Today, of course, he’s exhausted and he’s back in treatment at hospital tomorrow. But his spirit is lifted and we’ll always have that special moment as a family, whatever the future holds.
“I can’t thank Elton and David enough. They are such kind people and have been so supportive to us all over the last three years. We have been surrounded by so much kindness from people everywhere. It really keeps us going through the hard times. We’re just bursting with gratitude.”
