Kate Garraway has confirmed she is in a new relationship with economist and journalist Liam Halligan, speaking publicly about the romance for the first time at the Chelsea Flower Show.
The Good Morning Britain presenter, 59, described the budding relationship simply by saying: "It is lovely. I suppose it is!"
However, she remained guarded about sharing too many details, expressing concern about tempting fate.
"We basically haven't really had time for a proper date! I don't want to jinx it! I don't want to say anything because I will jinx it! I will jinx it," she told The Mirror.
Kate Garraway has confirmed she is in a relationship with Liam Halligan
|X - LiamHalligan
The television host added with a smile: "We all love an Irishman don't we?"
Mr Halligan, who is Irish-British, hosts The Telegraph's Planet Normal podcast weekly.
Speculation about a romance between the pair first emerged last week when Ms Garraway was spotted cheering on Mr Halligan at a charity event where he completed a gruelling 24-hour cycle from London to Paris for Duchenne UK.
Photographs from the occasion showed the couple embracing warmly and beaming at one another, prompting widespread interest in their relationship status.
Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper died in January 2024
| ITVMr Halligan himself addressed the situation in a piece for the Spectator published last week, acknowledging that while things were still in their early stages, there was a "definite spark" between them.
The economist was reportedly already acquainted with Ms Garraway's late husband Derek Draper before the couple grew closer.
Ms Garraway has now confirmed what many had suspected following those initial public appearances together.
When asked whether she and Mr Halligan had managed to arrange any proper dates, Ms Garraway revealed that the journalist had been posing the same question to her.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Kate Garraway said it is 'lovely' to be in a new relationship
|GETTY
"He says to me, 'Now we're in the papers, is there a chance we can actually have some dates?'" she shared.
The presenter explained that family commitments have taken priority in recent weeks, with both her mother and father experiencing health difficulties.
"My mum and dad have not been very well so I've been really consumed by that," she said. "It's been tricky and I've just been doing that this weekend."
Ms Garraway disclosed that her father had originally planned to accompany her to the Chelsea Flower Show but was too unwell to attend.
Ms Garraway was widowed in January 2024 following the death of her husband Derek Draper, who had endured a prolonged battle with long Covid.
Mr Draper, a political lobbyist and psychotherapist, married the presenter in 2005 and the couple had two children together: Darcey, now 20, and Billy, 16.
Throughout her husband's illness, Ms Garraway produced several programmes documenting his condition and the wider impact of long Covid.
Since Mr Draper's passing, she has maintained a busy television schedule, appearing on Celebrity Traitors and The Masked Singer.
She also continues to present Life Stories, a role she assumed from Piers Morgan in 2022.
Garraway acknowledged that her new romance offered some welcome respite from difficult times, telling reporters: "Yes. It's lovely. And it's lovely to have you all caring!"