‘Giddy’ Garraway and her man in lycra! Good Morning Britain presenter Kate and Liam Halligan can’t keep their hands off each other – as star makes emotional decision about wedding ring
For many years, it was nearly impossible for Good Morning Britain star Kate Garraway to find a way to smile while breastfeeding her late husband Derek Draper.
But it looks like that’s no longer an issue for him after striking up a close friendship with fellow broadcaster Liam Halligan.
Ms Garraway beamed as she joined the former GB News economics and business editor at the Herne Hill velodrome in south London to invite him to take part in the Duchenne Dash by bike to Paris.
They were seen giggling before posing for a photo together on Friday. Ms Garraway was also seen taking photos of herself on the mobile phone of Mr Draper’s friend Mr Halligan, whom he has known for 20 years.
Viewers commented on how happy the mother-of-two looked, but also noticed how Mr Draper changed both her wedding and engagement rings from her left hand to her right hand as she walked past him.
Friends say Ms Garraway, 59, took off the rings for a challenge while filming Celebrity Traitors last year and decided to wear them on the same fingers on her other hand.
“Kate always wants Derek close to her,” the friend said. ‘She thought about wearing the rings on a necklace and had to take them off while she was in The Traitors, although it’s a wrench so she decided it was time to take them off her wedding ring altogether.’
The Daily Mail first revealed that Ms Garraway and father-of-three Mr Halligan had become close after spending the weekend in her home town of Saffron Walden in Essex four weeks ago.
Kate Garraway pictured in London with new boyfriend Liam Halligan, two years after husband Derek Draper’s death
Halligan was going on a bike tour and Kate came to support him
They were seen giggling before posing for a photo together on Friday
She was seen ‘chilling out’ with him at The Railway Arms pub, where he performed with his band The Hooligans.
Although Ms Garraway has not yet confirmed that she is in a relationship with Mr Halligan, friends say she “loves his company” and that Mr Halligan makes her laugh “a lot”.
He is understood to be keen for their friendship to develop into a relationship, but admits it is ‘complicated’ given that Mr Draper, the former political lobbyist and psychotherapist, died of a heart attack in January 2024 after falling seriously ill with Covid in March 2020.
Mrs Garraway had looked after him at their home in north London; She still lives there with her children Darcey, 20, and Billie, 16.
‘It’s still going in the right direction,’ says a friend of mine. ‘It’s all so exciting and Kate is so excited. It’s nice for your friends and family to see this.
‘She will never, ever stop loving Derek and she’s still grieving but she finds a way to be happy and it’s beautiful to watch.
‘Liam is a very, very attractive man and Kate has problems. ‘They both really want this friendship to turn into something else.’
Mr Halligan, 57, a columnist for the Sunday Telegraph, has split from his partner, journalist Lucy Ward.
Garraway was also seen taking photos of himself with Halligan’s mobile phone, whom he has known for 20 years.
Halligan, 57, a columnist for the Sunday Telegraph, has split from his partner, journalist Lucy Ward.
The Daily Mail first revealed that Garraway and father-of-three Halligan became close after spending the weekend in his hometown of Saffron Walden in Essex four weeks ago.
Garraway has yet to confirm she is in a relationship with Halligan
Garraway photographed with husband Derek Draper, who died two years ago
They have a son and two daughters, Maeve and Ailis, who play with him in his band.
In December last year, Ms Garraway discussed dating prospects following the tragic loss of her husband, whom she married in September 2005.
Speaking to Jamie Laing on the Great Company podcast, Ms Garraway revealed she was ready to have romance back in her life. He also stated that he was looking for ‘single fathers’.
Ms Garraway said: ‘I don’t want to think of never having experienced romantic love again in my life. I think that would be a pretty sad way to go about life, wouldn’t you say? But no, I’m not there yet. ‘I don’t know if anyone wants me.’
He then joked: ‘Talk to your friends, find out if any of their dads are single. This is your job, Jamie.’
But Ms Garraway revealed she was not interested in using a dating app, adding: ‘I’m an old school kind of person where you live your life, do the things you love and meet people along the way. But maybe that won’t happen anymore.’
