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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Kate Garraway shares emotional details from rare night out with husband Derek Draper at Elton John concert as he goes back to hospital

Kate Garraway has shared the emotional details about her rare night out with her husband Derek Draper. It was revealed on Tuesday (April 18) that the couple had headed to London's O2 arena to see Sir Elton John on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.

And during a recent show in the capital on his last ever tour, which has been delayed due to health issues as Sir Elton was set to conclude the tour in 2021, the 76-year-old told fans in the crowd that Good Morning Britain star Kate and her husband former political advisor husband Derek had endured "really tough times" following Derek's Covid ordeal which began in early 2020.

Derek, 55, was struck down with the virus and quickly became critically ill and he is believed to be the worst-affected living Covid patient in the UK after spending 13 months in hospital between March 2020 and April 2021.

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But earlier this week, Kate, also 55, and Derek travelled from their North London home to the O2 in East London with children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 13 where Sir Elton sang Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me for the couple. Sir Elton to have said of the couple: "They’re inspiring. They’ve never given up and I’m so thrilled they’re here, I can’t believe they are here." He added: "I want to dedicate this song to the people I mentioned before, but especially to you guys."

Following the night out as a family on Monday (April 17), Kate told Smooth Radio: "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." She said her husband refused to wear ear defenders for an hour so he could hear the music but "at one point it seemed it might be all too much for him" and "he started shaking".

Kate with Derek in the garden of their home (ITV)

She continued: “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." Kate went on: "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.

"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." Offering an update on her husband, Kate said Derek had been "exhausted" since the concert and was back in hospital for treatment.

She added: "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."

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