Kate Garraway's husband's death rocked the nation after she publicly shared and documented his battle with long Covid. Two years after he sadly passed away, the broadcaster is rumoured to be "growing close" with old friend, Liam Halligan.
The 58-year-old Good Morning Britain presenter was married to her husband, Derek Draper, for over 18 years before his death on 3 January 2024, having tied the knot in September 2005.
Kate has since been linked to a fellow broadcaster, Liam, 56, whom she has reportedly known for 20 years and was a friend of the late Derek. The mum-of-two was spotted in Liam's hometown, Saffron Walden, in Essex over the weekend.
She was in the area watching her rumoured new lover's band, The Hooligans, play at The Railway Arms pub, according to the Daily Mail, where Liam introduced the star to his friends and his neighbours.
The publication suggested the pair of old friends were seen "getting cosy", and that Kate was open to seeing where things could lead. They revealed the pair initially met through friends and that Liam made Kate laugh; however, the situation was "complicated".
HELLO! understands that while they are "growing close", as of now, there is nothing going on between Kate and Liam, and there is currently "no romance" between the good friends.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesDerek's health battles
Derek, who was a former political lobbyist and psychotherapist, first became seriously ill in March 2020 after he contracted Covid during the pandemic. Four years later, he died of a cardiac arrest.
Kate, who shares two children, Darcey, 20, and Billie, 16, with her late husband, cared for Derek at their home in north London throughout the duration of his illness.
Derek's case of the virus caused severe, long-lasting damage to his body, including heart, lung, and brain damage. He was considered one of the UK's worst-affected long Covid patients.
Following his untimely death, Kate opened up about the prospect of finding love again on Jamie Laing's 'Great Company' podcast and said: "I wouldn't like to think that I'd never had romantic love in my life again.
© PA Images via Getty Images"I think that would be rather a sad way to go through life, wouldn't it? But, no, I'm not there yet. I don't know if anybody would want me."
Kate's suggested new love interest, Liam, is an award-winning journalist, currently writing columns for The Sunday Telegraph, after previously working as the economics and business editor at GB News.
He is a dad to one son and two daughters, Maeve and Ailis, who play with him in his band, from his previous relationship with journalist Lucy Ward.
