Match of the Day Stars Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman Spotted Together Amid Confirmed Romance
The BBC football pundits were photographed smiling and laughing as they arrived at work, marking their first public appearance since their relationship was announced.
Match of the Day presenter Kelly Cates was all smiles as she and her boyfriend, fellow pundit Mark Chapman, were seen together in public for the first time since their romance was confirmed earlier this month. The couple arrived at work on Sunday, with Cates preparing to host MOTD on BBC One while Chapman presented daytime sports coverage for Radio 5 Live.
Cates, 51, opted for a stylish look in a pale pink, loose-fitting shirt and dark grey tailored trousers. Chapman, 53, wore a cream zip-up fleece and a dark navy jacket. An onlooker noted their cheerful interaction, describing them as "smiling and laughing together and walking in sync." The observer also pointed out that they were wearing matching trainers, calling it "quite sweet."
The pair, who became the main co-presenters for Match of the Day alongside Gabby Logan last season, reportedly began developing feelings for each other in May. However, sources indicate that sparks truly flew during the football World Cup in Atlanta this summer while they were covering England's semi-final match. Despite their on-air roles not overlapping, they previously appeared together on Celebrity Gogglebox in July.
Chapman's romantic life has been the subject of some attention. It was reported that he split from his girlfriend of three years, estate agent Clere Collier, without much explanation. Collier later accused Chapman of becoming close with Cates, which he admitted to while maintaining there was no overlap between the relationships and that he had remained faithful. Chapman was previously married to his wife Sara for 19 years until her death in 2020 from cancer; they had three children together.
Cates is the daughter of Scotland and Liverpool football legend Kenny Dalglish. She was previously married to TV producer Tom Cates, with whom she has two children, but they separated in 2021.