Kate Garraway new boyfriend is Liam Halligan, an Irish-British economist, journalist, and broadcaster who hosts The Telegraph's Planet Normal podcast. The couple confirmed their relationship publicly in May 2026, around two years after Kate was widowed following the death of her husband, Derek Draper.
Who Is Kate Garraway’s New Boyfriend?
Kate Garraway new boyfriend, Liam Halligan, is best known as an economics journalist. He has written for The Telegraph since the early 2000s. Today, he hosts the paper’s weekly current-affairs podcast, Planet Normal.
Liam previously worked as an editor at GB News. He is also a father of three. Furthermore, reports describe him as a keen cyclist who took part in a gruelling 24-hour charity bike ride from London to Paris.
He and Kate weren’t strangers before their romance began. In fact, Liam had known Kate’s late husband, Derek Draper, through overlapping media and political circles.
How Did Kate Garraway and Liam Halligan Meet?
Kate and Liam knew each other for years before they started dating. As a result, their relationship grew out of an existing friendship rather than a chance encounter.
Liam has explained that the pair grew closer after they both found themselves single. He described how, in recent years, they had “become good friends” as their situations changed.
Speculation about a romance first surfaced after Kate was photographed supporting Liam at his charity cycling event. Soon after, the couple was reportedly seen together in Saffron Walden, Essex — Liam’s hometown — where they had a date night at a local pub.
When Did Kate Garraway Confirm Her New Boyfriend?
Kate Garraway confirmed her new boyfriend publicly in May 2026. She spoke to reporters for the first time while attending the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Before that public confirmation, rumours had circulated for several weeks. However, neither Kate nor Liam had spoken directly about the relationship until this point.
What Has Kate Garraway Said About Liam Halligan?
Kate has been warm but guarded when discussing her new relationship. Asked directly about it, she told reporters simply, “It is lovely. I suppose it is!”
She has also been careful not to get ahead of herself. Kate explained that the pair hadn’t had much time for formal dates, adding that she didn’t want to jinx things by saying too much.
Elsewhere, she’s struck a lighter tone about her boyfriend’s nationality, joking, “We all love an Irishman don’t we?”
It’s worth noting that Kate previously said she didn’t feel ready to date again. Before the relationship became public, she had told The Sun she didn’t feel able to move on.
What Has Liam Halligan Said About Kate Garraway?
Liam has spoken slightly more openly about the relationship’s early stages. He told Talk TV host Mark Dolan, “It’s early days, we’ll see what happens.”
He also described how their friendship deepened over time. Liam explained that they’d known each other for years, and that becoming single “against our wishes” in recent years brought them closer as friends first.
Kate Garraway’s Life Since Derek Draper’s Death
To understand this new chapter, it helps to know what came before it. Kate’s husband, Derek Draper, was a political lobbyist and psychotherapist who contracted COVID-19 in March 2020.
Derek spent 13 months in hospital and suffered complications affecting his lungs, heart, and kidneys. Kate documented parts of his illness and care in two ITV documentaries. Sadly, he died in January 2024, nearly four years after first falling ill.
Since then, Kate has stayed busy professionally. She has appeared on shows including Celebrity Traitors and The Masked Singer, and continues to present Life Stories, a role she took over from Piers Morgan in 2022.
Kate and Derek married in 2005. They share two children together: Darcey, 20, and Billy, 16.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
| 2005 | Kate Garraway marries Derek Draper |
| March 2020 | Derek Draper contracts COVID-19 and is hospitalized |
| January 2024 | Derek Draper dies after a long illness |
| ~April 2026 | Kate is seen supporting Liam Halligan at a charity cycling event; dating rumours begin |
| May 2026 | Kate confirms her relationship with Liam Halligan at the Chelsea Flower Show |
FAQs
Who is Kate Garraway new boyfriend?
Her new boyfriend is Liam Halligan, an Irish-British economist and journalist who hosts The Telegraph’s Planet Normal podcast.
How did Kate Garraway meet Liam Halligan?
They knew each other for years through media and political circles before becoming close friends and then a couple.
When did Kate Garraway confirm her new relationship?
She confirmed it publicly in May 2026 while attending the Chelsea Flower Show.
Is Kate Garraway new boyfriend married?
Public reporting hasn’t detailed his marital history in depth; he is described as a father of three.
What happened to Kate Garraway’s husband?
Her husband, Derek Draper, died in January 2024 after a long illness linked to COVID-19 complications.
Conclusion
Kate Garraway new boyfriend, Liam Halligan, represents a hopeful new chapter after a genuinely difficult few years. Their relationship grew from friendship, and Kate has described it as “lovely,” while both have been careful not to move too fast in the public eye. As more details emerge, keep checking back for the latest on Kate Garraway new boyfriend.
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