Kate Garraway thanks ‘gallant stranger’ after Oasis lift as liquidator cites revised £288,054 HMRC claim

Kate Garraway thanked a “gallant stranger” after being lifted above the crowd to see Oasis at Wembley, sharing a rare, joyful photo with her two children as she seeks moments of normality while grieving husband Derek Draper. The broadcaster is meanwhile dealing with the liquidation of Draper’s company Astra Aspera, a liquidator’s filing showing a revised HMRC claim of £288,054, and reports she may sell a north‑London property to help meet creditor claims.

Kate Garraway thanked a “gallant stranger” on Instagram after being lifted onto a concert‑goer’s shoulders so she could see Oasis at Wembley, posting an affectionate snap of herself beaming above the crowd with her two children. In a caption the 58‑year‑old broadcaster said the unnamed fan hauled her up for “Champagne Supernova” so she could “relive my 20s” at Knebworth, joking that he may not have realised “a) I’m heavier than I look & b) how long that song actually is”. She added that she was “eternally grateful” for the moment. (According to the Daily Mail, the post also referenced upcoming Oasis dates at Murrayfield.)

Garraway’s lighter‑hearted social media update came as she continues to juggle family life with very public personal challenges. Photographs from the night show her alongside daughter Darcey and son Billy, and the Instagram post — and subsequent coverage — emphasised the small, restorative experiences she has been seeking after a difficult period for the family.

That difficult period centres on the prolonged illness and death of her husband, Derek Draper, who died in early January 2024 after a multi‑year struggle with severe complications following Covid‑19. Broad reports at the time summarised how Draper contracted the virus in March 2020, spent more than a year in hospital, suffered a cardiac arrest in December 2023 and died surrounded by family; Garraway publicly announced his death and later thanked viewers and well‑wishers for their support. The couple’s ordeal — and Garraway’s public documentation of it in documentaries and interviews — has shaped much of the national conversation about long Covid and caregiving.

Alongside the emotional toll, Garraway has been dealing with financial consequences linked to Draper’s care and the collapse of the couple’s joint business interests. Official filings show Astra Aspera Ltd — the psychotherapy company associated with Draper — entered a creditors’ voluntary liquidation process with formal statements and liquidator reports lodged at Companies House. Those public records underpin reporting that the company carried large unsecured liabilities and that there have been ongoing exchanges with creditors.

A recent media report cited a liquidator’s filing and said HM Revenue & Customs had a revised claim of £288,054 against the insolvent company — a reduction from a previously published, substantially larger figure — and that wider debts linked to four years of care and other liabilities have been variously estimated in coverage at between roughly £500,000 and £800,000. Garraway’s representatives told the Evening Standard that she is “shocked” by some published figures and is working with accountants and HMRC to resolve outstanding matters; the spokesperson added that she is in regular contact with the tax authority to “make sure she honours what’s required” while contesting some of the specifics.

To help address liabilities, Garraway has been reported to be selling a north‑London property she and Draper bought in 2004. Coverage said the three‑bed, four‑storey townhouse in Islington — previously advertised for short‑term rent — is being put on the market after appearing on the Land Registry, with valuations cited in the press that place its likely sale price well above the original purchase price. Reports presented the sale as part of a practical effort to meet creditor claims and avoid more drastic steps such as selling the family’s main home. Garraway’s team has not disputed that she is taking steps to deal with the financial fallout while also caring for her family.

Colleagues and outlets have emphasised that, amid legal and financial processes, Garraway has sought to carve out moments of normality for her children. Recent coverage of festival and family outings — for example a weekend at Camp Bestival and a mother‑and‑daughter day at Wimbledon — framed those appearances as rare, much‑needed respites after the stress of four years providing care and then grieving. Such coverage, and Garraway’s own social posts, have been interpreted as part of a public attempt to balance private grief with practical responsibilities.

The public documents and press reports together paint a picture of someone continuing to grieve while managing a complex insolvency and creditor process that remains ongoing. Companies House filings provide the primary legal record of Astra Aspera’s liquidation; media reporting conveys the human consequences and the revised creditor figures now being discussed. Garraway’s statement that she is working with advisers and HMRC to meet obligations underscores that these matters are still being negotiated and, in places where reporting has differed on dates or sums, the record remains subject to formal accounting and legal steps.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative appears to be fresh, with no evidence of prior publication. The Daily Mail article was published on August 10, 2025, and references an Instagram post by Kate Garraway thanking a ‘gallant stranger’ after an Oasis concert at Wembley. The earliest known publication date of similar content is August 10, 2025. The narrative is not republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The content is based on a recent Instagram post, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data but does not recycle older material. No similar content appeared more than 7 days earlier.

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The direct quotes from Kate Garraway’s Instagram post are unique to this narrative. No identical quotes appear in earlier material. The wording of the quotes matches the original Instagram post. No variations in quote wording were found. No online matches were found for the quotes, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a reputable UK newspaper. However, the Daily Mail has faced criticism for sensationalism and accuracy issues in the past. The report is based on Kate Garraway’s Instagram post, which is a primary source. The Instagram post is authentic and verifiable. No unverifiable entities are mentioned in the report.

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative’s claims are plausible and consistent with known events. Kate Garraway’s Instagram post thanking a ‘gallant stranger’ after an Oasis concert at Wembley aligns with her public persona and recent activities. The report lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a minor concern. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. The structure is focused and relevant to the claim. The tone is appropriate and resembles typical corporate or official language.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of prior publication. The quotes are unique and match the original Instagram post. The source is a reputable UK newspaper, and the content is based on a verifiable primary source. The claims are plausible and consistent with known events, with specific factual anchors. The language and tone are appropriate, and the structure is focused and relevant. No significant credibility risks were identified.