Kelly Cates is one of the most familiar voices and faces in British football broadcasting, but questions about her husband and personal life have attracted fresh attention in 2026.
Kelly does not currently have a husband. She was previously married to television producer Tom Cates, with whom she shares two daughters. The couple married in December 2007 and later separated, with their divorce finalized in 2021 after around 14 years of marriage.
More recently, Kelly’s personal life has been linked to fellow broadcaster Mark Chapman. Reports in October 2026 said the pair had started a relationship after working closely together on Match of the Day.
While Kelly has spent much of her career discussing football in front of millions of viewers, she has generally kept her family life more private. Her story includes a long marriage, two children and now a reported relationship with someone who works alongside her in the football broadcasting world.
Who Was Kelly Cates’ Husband?
Kelly Cates’ former husband was Tom Cates, a television producer.
The pair married on December 29, 2007, beginning a marriage that would last for more than a decade. Tom worked behind the scenes in television, while Kelly was developing her own successful career as a sports presenter and broadcaster.
Their professional backgrounds meant both understood the pressures of working in television. Kelly’s career has involved football coverage, live broadcasts and major sporting events, all of which can require long and unpredictable working hours.
Despite Kelly becoming a highly recognizable television personality, the couple generally kept their private family life away from the spotlight.
Their marriage eventually ended, however, and the pair separated before finalizing their divorce in 2021.
Kelly Cates and Tom Cates’ Marriage
Kelly Cates and Tom Cates married in 2007.
At the time, Kelly was already building a strong reputation in sports broadcasting. She had followed a career path that placed her regularly in front of television cameras and had established herself as a respected football presenter.
Marriage and family life developed alongside that career.
Kelly and Tom were together for approximately 14 years before their divorce was finalized. During their marriage, they welcomed two daughters.
Although Kelly is regularly seen discussing football on television, she has not made her family the centre of her public profile. She has tended to keep details about her children and private relationships relatively low-key.
That approach has continued even as interest in her personal life has increased.
Why Did Kelly Cates and Tom Cates Divorce?
Kelly Cates and Tom Cates separated before their divorce was finalized in 2021.
Public reports have confirmed the end of their marriage, but Kelly has not made a detailed public explanation of the reasons for their separation.
That is an important distinction because celebrity relationships often attract speculation, especially when both people have connections to television. In Kelly’s case, there is no need to assume details that she has not publicly confirmed.
What is known is straightforward. Kelly and Tom married in 2007, had two daughters together, separated after years of marriage and finalized their divorce in 2021.
Since then, Kelly has continued to focus on her broadcasting career and family life.
Kelly Cates’ Children
Kelly Cates and Tom Cates share two daughters.
Being a parent has remained an important part of Kelly’s life, although she has largely protected her children’s privacy.
Her career in football broadcasting can involve extensive travel, late-night matches and demanding schedules. Balancing those professional commitments with raising a family has been part of her life for many years.
Kelly’s daughters have grown up largely outside the public spotlight. Unlike their mother, they have not been regular fixtures in the media, and Kelly has generally avoided making their private lives a subject of public discussion.
This is one reason relatively little personal information about the family is widely known.
Kelly Cates’ Career in Football Broadcasting
Kelly Cates has built a substantial career in sports media.
She is particularly associated with football coverage and has worked for major broadcasters during a career spanning many years.
Her professional background is also closely connected to football through her family. Kelly is the daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, one of the most famous figures in the history of the sport.
However, Kelly has established a reputation based on her own broadcasting ability.
Rather than being known simply as the daughter of a football icon, she has become a respected presenter in her own right. Her calm style and knowledge of the game have made her a familiar presence during major football coverage.
Her professional career also led to her working alongside other prominent broadcasters, including Mark Chapman.
Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman
In October 2026, reports began linking Kelly Cates romantically with fellow BBC Sport presenter Mark Chapman.
The two already had a professional connection through Match of the Day, where they have worked together alongside fellow presenter Gabby Logan.
According to reports, Kelly and Mark grew closer after Chapman’s split from his previous partner earlier in 2026.
The reported relationship has attracted considerable attention because the pair are already familiar faces to football viewers.
However, much of their personal relationship remains private. Neither broadcaster has turned their reported romance into a major public spectacle, and the available information should be viewed in the context of media reports rather than assuming details that have not been confirmed by the couple themselves.
Is Kelly Cates Married to Mark Chapman?
No, Kelly Cates is not currently married to Mark Chapman.
Reports in 2026 describe the pair as being in a relationship, but there has been no indication that they are married.
Kelly’s previous marriage was to Tom Cates, and that marriage ended with divorce in 2021.
The distinction is important because searches for “Kelly Cates husband” can easily lead to confusion between her former husband and her reported current partner.
For now, Tom Cates is her former spouse, while Mark Chapman has been reported as her current romantic partner.
Kelly Cates’ Private Approach to Family Life
Despite being a well-known television presenter, Kelly has generally kept her personal life separate from her professional identity.
Her work naturally places her in front of large audiences, but she rarely needs to discuss her family during football broadcasts.
That privacy has also meant that her relationships have sometimes received more attention when they do become public.
Her divorce from Tom Cates was relatively private, and she has continued to protect her daughters from unnecessary publicity.
The reported relationship with Mark Chapman has brought renewed interest, partly because both are established figures in British sports broadcasting.
Still, Kelly’s professional achievements remain the main reason audiences know her.
Kelly Cates’ Life Beyond Her Former Marriage
Kelly Cates’ story is not defined by her divorce.
Her career has continued to develop after her marriage to Tom Cates ended. She has remained an important part of football broadcasting and has taken on prominent presenting roles.
Her personal life has also entered a new chapter.
After years of marriage, divorce and raising two daughters, Kelly is now reportedly in a relationship with someone who understands the unusual demands of working in sports television.
Mark Chapman is also an experienced broadcaster, meaning the two share an understanding of live television, football coverage and the pressures that come with their jobs.
That professional connection makes their reported relationship particularly interesting to football fans.
Kelly Cates Husband: The Bottom Line
Kelly Cates does not currently have a husband.
Her former husband is television producer Tom Cates, whom she married on December 29, 2007. The couple spent around 14 years married, share two daughters and finalized their divorce in 2021.
In 2026, Kelly’s personal life has attracted fresh attention following reports that she is dating Mark Chapman, her fellow Match of the Day presenter.
While her career has always been highly visible, Kelly has generally chosen to keep her family life private. She has continued working at the highest level of football broadcasting while raising her two daughters away from much of the public attention.
For now, the clearest way to describe her relationship status is that she is divorced from Tom Cates and is reportedly in a relationship with Mark Chapman, rather than married to either man.
Her journey from marriage and motherhood to a new reported relationship is another chapter in the life of a broadcaster who has built a respected career in football entirely on her own terms.